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Name:
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Pacemaker
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Subject:
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Boat ban lawsuit appeal
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Date:
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5/3/2008 2:19:40 PM
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I am sure most of you have heard that the Big Boat Ban is dead in the water.....FOR NOW. I have to agree with some previous posts I have read on this very topic by Lifetime Laker. I learned that this bill was to be presented at the eleventh hour....giving me literally hours to make myself present at the statehouse on Wednesday and again after it was postponed to Thursday at 9:00AM. I have heard the criticism about my failure to attend HOBO meetings to have prior knowledge, but not unlike most of you, I simply don't have the time available to attend these meetings. I do, however, pay an annual membership just like the other members of HOBO, participate in the lake clean-up, contribute to the fireworks fund, etc. I take great offense in the leadership of the HOBO Assoc. standing before our representatives and representing himself as a speaker for the entire organization and otherwise leading the members to believe that the entire organization was in favor of the ban. As stated in prior posts, either there is a quorum with all HOBO members in favor, or there is not. Clearly there is not, and for the President of the organization to make representations contrary is unconscionable. First, the bill presented is so vague as it presents concerns as to who and what will be impacted. To place a ban on boats beyond the 26' 11" length is absolutely ludicris, and I can find no logic to support the reasoning behind such a ban. Why is the length of a boat a factor at all? What does the length of a boat have to do with anything! If you ask one person, they will say it is because of the speed of the big "go boats". Well, if that is the case, then you have to ask what is the difference between a boat longer than the suggested ban length going 100 mph, and a boat that is 16' in length going 100 mph? In fact, what about the PWC's that can travel in excess of 70-90 mph! I have also been told that I am completely misunderstanding the mission and purpose behind the proposed bill. I have been told that speed has absolutely nothing to do with the proposed bill. In fact, the water patrol authorities have already stated that they do not want to get into a situation where they have to monitor or otherwise control speed because they do not have the equipment necessary to do so. That being said, I am again back to the question of what does it matter if ones boat is in excess of 26'11"? I was told that the "people" of Lake Jordan do not want their lake to become the proverbial dumping grounds for all the "go boat" owners who are now prohibited from enjoying their water craft of choice on Lake Martin and others. The Lake Martin big boat ban is now in its second year (maybe third). According to Elmore County officials, Lake Jordan currently has FOUR "go boats". Most of those FOUR "go boats" were housed on Lake Jordan prior to the big boat ban on Lake Martin. I think if Lake Jordan was going to become the proverbial "dumping ground" for the "go boats" that more than FOUR "go boats" would have landed on our waters in a two+ yr time frame. There is also present in the bill some prohibition and/or strict criteria for any vessel that contains a galley and/or sanitation system, and validation that the system is being properly disposed of is required. Our boat has both, and WE'RE ALL FOR IT!!!! However, to the best of my knowledge, there is no facility available on Lake Jordan. For that reason, I have disengaged my systems and they are not permitted to be used. However, I believe that if a law is to be enacted that places this requirement on the boat owner, the State of Alabama should be required to put in place the facility in which the law can be abided by. My boat cannot be moved in and out of the water like others. FYI: After the EPA adamently pushed for a sanitation dumping station to be put in place at one facility, it later determined that Lake Jordan does not even qualify to have a dumping station put in because it determined that there was not enough "go boats", "houseboats", or otherwise boats with a sanitation system to warrant having one in place. Additionally, after water samples were taken and tested by Auburn University, it was found that Lake Jordan was one of the very few lakes in the state wherein they would recommend that you could actually eat the fish caught in our lake. I know that all of the owners of Lake Jordan property would like to see this be the case for years and years to come. I am a Lake Jordan property owner. I do care about what happens to our lake. However, it does NOT have to be at the expense of having my preference of water craft dictated to me. I am a responsible individual who takes responsibility for my actions. I do not need the government holding my hand as I am at play on the water. We are the owners of a vessel who would be affected by the big boat ban. My husband and I own a 36 foot antique boat that I am restoring as a passionate hobbyist. Me nor my boat have ever done anything to affect anyone else or their property. I putt around in my big boat when I take it out. I just like to ride around and enjoy the scenery. I have scene far more damage by people on PWC's and bass boats than I have from any of the big "go boats." In fact, in all the time I have lived at the lake (and I work from home and I am there everyday) I have never even witnessed a "go boat" come in my slough. The problems experienced by all has absolutely nothing to do with the type of watercraft one utilizes, but more to do with the operator of the watercraft. Water Patrol needs to focus more on the actions of the operator, and less on what type of watercraft is in operation. Personally, I have experienced a great deal of problems associated with the bass boaters that come flying in and out of my slough at excessive speeds. So much so, in fact, that I was nearly tossed from my boat while I was working on my flybridge by an inconsiderate bassboater who suddenly decided that he needed to charge off from mere feet from the bow of my vessel. You don't hear anyone complaining about the real issue because no one to date has had the financial ability or the gumption to take on Bassmasters. Therefore, let's all point fingers at someone else, i.e. "go boats". I agree that some legislation should be in place to protect all of our lakes from improper dumping of sanitation systems. Although it would place a burden upon myself, I would be the first in line to help make that happen. However, just because one person prefers on type of vessel over another does not mean that our right to a choice should be taken away from us. What is next? People keep on and we will eventually lose the right to use the waters at all. Hold those accountable for their actions, not all of us for the actions of others.
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