An Act To Prohibit Water-ski Courses on Small Ponds

[MattP]

An Act To Prohibit Water-ski Courses on Small Ponds

 

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §13068-A, sub-§17 is enacted to read:

 

17. Water-ski course; prohibition. A person may not operate a watercraft for the purpose of water skiing on a course established for water skiing on a body of water that has less than 100 continuous acres of open water that is not subject to headway speed restrictions.

 

A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.

 

B. A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime. note :(Class E: Crimes punishable by up to six months incarceration and a $1,000 fine)

 

SUMMARY

 

This bill provides that a person may not operate a watercraft for water skiing on a course on a body of water that has less than 100 continuous acres of open water that is not subject to headway speed restrictions. note:(Headway speed is speed necessary to maintain steerage and control)

 

Source

 

If you are a resident of Maine this link will take you to the contact information for your representative. LINK

[MattP]

The way I am reading this piece of legislation that will be the FIRST piece of legislation that is brought before the Maine Legislature at the start of their new session is that all private sites in Maine will become illegal to ski on. This I assume will put an end to sanctioned competition in that state. If we allow them to start here they can do this in every state. This must be stopped here. Hopefully someone has already contacted AWSA and USA Waterski and the other world governing bodies to put pressure on those who brought this piece of legislation to the docket to remove it. The people of Maine need to act by calling their representative directly to voice their opinion.

 

I only see one reason that this was brought up someone with a lot of influence possibly a member of the legislature has a private lake near their home that they do not like. They either host tournaments there that obstruct some part of their life for a few house a few times a year.

[Nick Sullivan]

You know something, I've about had it with big governement intrusion. I am so sick and tired of this kind of crap.

[animal]

That really sucks. Who would really care enough to prohibit something that has not effect on them. By the way, what is a headway speed restriction? If you have it, do you still have the right to have the course?

[Nick Sullivan]

Radar put something on Facebook today and they said that the AWSA or someone like that is working on this already. Obviously, we should all contact the state and voice our opionions. Also contacting your own state reps is a good idea too.

[MattP]

Headway speed is speed necessary to maintain steerage and control

[animal]

So if you have a headway speed restriction of 45 mph, you are good to go?

[6balls]

Buy a few antelope to herd and you're good to go.

[danbirch]

Who could possibly be behind this bill? What would be the motivation to stop all water skiers on private "ponds"? What could they gain by banning water skiing? Did a farmer have a tiff with some skiers, and have political influence?

[Horton]

Matt,

You are a solid Baller. Great post. Thanks for getting the news out when I am doing my real job.

[dleenhouts]

I could understand the motivation if they were concerned with environmental impacts of skiing, but the bill doesn't seem to prohibit power boats, or even free skiing for that matter. Let's hope it gets shot down like Cheny's hunting partner.

[Wish]

Would it be a good idea to post a letter of concern/disagreement with this bill that could be printed and signed. Then mailed or maybe just emailed to that states rep. I thought the AWSA had letters like this on hand. It most certainly could set precident for other states to follow. Not good.

[MrJones]

I really want to know the "Why" behind this. 

[MattP]

On the public lake I ski on there are very strict rules governing the use of Slalom courses. Now attacking places where you are not "bothering" anyone else is just not right.

 

Scot I agree I would like to know the WHY behind this very specific piece of legislation because it is not going after fishermen, free skiing, or just boats in general. Its way to specific. It must be a "pet" legislation for someone.

 

If anyone knows someone at AWSA please contact them and see what they can do.

[ForrestGump]

Matt, Got to USAWaterski.org and then to 3 Event/AWSA and down to contacts and then committees. It will bring up a document with all the committee members. On the alst page is all the members who are on the Waterways Committee.  Start calling or emailing them. 

[danbirch]

http://maine.gov/DHHS/eng/water/dwp_services/swp/PL353/Resolve029finalrpt.htm

http://www.legislature.maine.gov/ros/lom/LOM121st/14Pub601-650/Pub601-650-29.htm

http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/billtexts/HP028201.asp 

[6balls]

Could an letter be posted on BOS, electronically signed by Ballers and submitted to the appropriate personnel?  When we have had to fight medicare cuts in medicine, our organizations provide links to a prefab letter, we can either edit and send or simply send.  When we do, it automatically goes to the appropriate representatives.  Easy way to get busy docs to act in concert and generate a lot of letters. 

[AggieSkier]

Boat US is a non-profit boating group with an active boating advocacy department. They should be involved.

 

As a side note, Boat US also provides good low cost boat insurance. You must be a member to obtain insurance. Memberships are $30 but a group can form a "group co-op" with 5 members and receive 50% savings on dues. I formed a co-op for our community, free and easy. http://www.boatus.com/group/default.asp Maybe a Baller co-op?

[danbirch]

I'd join that co-op. I've had their insurance for years, and even without the co-op, their insurance price is the lowest.

[LeonL]

I was shocked to find out recently that the Ky State Fish and Wildlife has jurisdiction to enforce any and all laws and regulations related to boating even on private sites.  This means that they can enforce CG approved vests while one is tricking, for example, plus a multitude of other regulations.  Contrary to "normal" law enforcement, they may go onto private property without any "probable cause" at their whim, under the provison that fish and wildlife are everywhere. 

[MattP]

I believe that this is the same in FL. I have heard stories from trickers that have gotten tickers on private sites before when the law enforcement agency came onto the property.

[boarditup]

As with any potential law, the lawmakers respond well to multiple contacts, information, and solid efforts.  If there is silence, then there is consent. Anyone who lives in the state or travels to the state for skiing should make as much noise as possible.  E-mail, letters, phone calls, and visits to the reps and senators are the key to making this happen.  E-mails to the visitor's bureau or tourism department also help.  Just say you will not visit the state for your favorite sport if this law passes.

[MCskiFreak]

I am so glad that things in this country are going so well to allow the politicians to have time to attempt to destroy our sport as well. The fisheries have the same jurisdiction in Michingan as well, had a friend get a huge fine for a bate pile on his private hunting property last fall.

 It seems that there is a real lack of common sense with laws like this, all of us want clean lakes and rivers to enjoy, but we also want to be able to use them. The legislator seem to be out to destroy the maritime industry though, the "permitorium" in the gulf, closing shipyards, new EPA regulations for fuel tanks that cause a huge cost increase, and just the other day I read that CT wants to raise the sales tax on all new boats by 50% this just after the largest yacht by gross tonnage built in the US was launched by Derector which is in CT. None of these ideas make sense, nor do they help anyone.

 

 

[swc5150]

Just another example of liberty dying right before our very eyes.  It sounds like another gov bureaucrat trying to justify employment by taking on a non-issue.  The DNR here in WI tried shutting down skiing through channels in our chain of lakes, but were shot down by the owners association.  They set up local bylaws to allow it.  I think we also finally have a governor in WI willing to fight this type of government intrusion.  Good luck in ME.  If it helps, I'll join that boating group, or donate to a legal defense fund.  Just let us know what it will take.