The best way to stop laws that are arbitrary is to show that there isn't a need for them. Some legislative bodies just pass laws for the sake of passing laws.
News laws should reflect an actual need, and should be carefully considered before being brought forward. Examples:
Accident statistics over the years found the following:
1. In the early days of boating many people were falling overboard and drowning. Solution - PFD laws. The drowning rate dropped.
2. Boats were also blowing up, catching fire and people got burned and killed. Solution - Backfire flame arrestors, ventilation, fire extinguishers, etc. Fewer boats burning, less people killed.
3. Drunk and reckless boaters running over people. Laws were passed creating severe penalties for drunk and reckless boaters.
4. PWCs jumping wakes, spraying other boats and people, causing damage, injuries and fatalities. Laws passed to prevent such actions.
If there is no positive influence from a proposed law, there should be no need for it. It's up to us to let the lawmakers know that the law isn't necessary.
As far as Mead, Mohave and Powell are concerned, how many out there have actually read the proposals? Or are you just hearing snips and soundbyies?
The leading proposal would close off less than 2% of the lake area to boating. There are plans to actually increase ammenities and access to other portions of the lakes, and to increase the amount of boats that can be managed within the parks. The purpose of the plans are to satisfy the environmental crowd AND the recreational boating public, by striking a balance between the need to protect the resources entrusted to us, and allow maximum use by the boating and non-boating public.
Here is the transcript of the proposals being considered for Lake Mead Recreational area. Before spreading bad information and whining about them taking away your right to boat freely. Read it, and find out what is actually being proposed. I think you'll find that the restrictions being considered aren't going to impact your boating experience all that much, if at all.
Lake Mead Management Draft
[ July 27, 2002, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: Boatcop ]