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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | USCG leader supports licensing recreational boaters
WASHINGTON – U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen favors the creation of a licensing system for recreational boaters similar to the one which exists for motor vehicle driver’s licenses, Stateline.org reported in a story on its Web site this morning.
Allen said the potential for a terrorist attack launched from small boats means that states and the Coast Guard must cooperate better to watch who is on America’s waterways, although he doesn’t yet have details or formal recommendations for how a national permit system would work, Allen said he’d like to see boating licenses be similar to motor vehicle driver’s licenses, according to the story.
Allen told a meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures on Dec. 6 he expects resistance to his idea from state lawmakers who don’t want to deal with the cost and details of licensing, and from the boat-building and tourism industries, which don’t want to risk a drop in revenues, Stateline.org reported.
"I’m trying to stick my toe in the water and see if I get bit by a piranha," he was quoted as saying. "As good as we get at surveillance, as good as we get at patrolling and creating deterrence out there, sooner or later we’re going to have to come to grips with the fact that we need to know to a greater certainty who are operating boats out there, what boats are out there."
Chris Edmonston, director of boating safety for the Boat Owners Association of The United States, said BoatU.S. is not opposed to boater education, but does not favor a system similar to that used for drivers licenses, according to the story.
"Mandatory education is one thing,” Edmonston was quoted as saying. “We’re not opposed to having people take a course. But we wouldn’t want to see it turn into a license that could be restricted or taken away. Driving a car is considered a privilege conferred by the state, but boating is considered a right. It gets back to that 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' sort of thing." |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | Can you say "Hidden Taxes"? What a crock! |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | I see a US citizens resident card coming in our near future, and I personally am not against that. In fact, why not make that single card an all encompassing one. Seems doing that with a single card, would negate having to carry the other 35 cards for everything a man might do. We'd all have to start packing a bikers wallete just to carry the cards.
Edited by walleye express 12/20/2006 6:53 AM
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| I would have a hard time believing that licensing will stop a potential boating threat anymore than registration has stopping felons from killing with guns.
Terrorist will just steal or buy a boat and do what they want, they could care less about training and registration rules. This is a load boloney at the very best.
Boat gets loaded with explosive and driven to location. What are the odds of that particular boat being stopped unless it is in a restricted area, which of course would stop any boat from entering. This whole proposal is a waste of time and money.
Take care,
Jim O |
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| But if it was registered, after they blew up the target, the authorities could then know who did it, and then react. Seems like the typical Congress way. |
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| walleye express - 12/20/2006 6:52 AM
I see a US citizens resident card coming in our near future, and I personally am not against that. In fact, why not make that single card an all encompassing one. Seems doing that with a single card, would negate having to carry the other 35 cards for everything a man might do. We'd all have to start packing a bikers wallete just to carry the cards.
I'm sure "papers" sounded like a good idea once in communist russia too! |
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Location: Westland, Mich. | ricky:
ever hear of a driver’s license, vehicle registration, fishing license, proof of insurance? It’s all “papers”. Dump out your wallet and only put back the things that don’t have your name on them. Bet you feel 10 lbs lighter. The problem with any registration is that the criminal doesn’t give a crap about any law. |
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| Surpised to hear that from someone so pro gun/anti-government intrusion Bill. I Guess that only applies to weapons, huh? LOL
I'd be against an all-inclusive card. Two reasons. One, a system goes down, whether power or technical, it all is lost. Great ID, but what does that little magnetic strip contain and what are you legal for if it can't be read. Also, who's going to foot the bill? The ID would mean almost every officer would have to be equiped with a device to read it or an investment back at the station to access the database. Conservative plan but would require a "tax" increase. Never would happen.
Back to the original topic. I'd be all for a boating license! Too many idiots out there who have no clue and are regularly putting my life at risk. It should be like a drivers license with points. If you're one of those bung-holes who likes to blow no-wake zones or have you kids or drunk buddies hanging all over the boat while it's moving, not only do you get a fine, but you only get to be that stupid a couple of times before your license is suspended. |
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Location: Winneconne | IMHO i dont think itll work, the man power needed to enforce this would require a phenomenal increase in everything that involves the DNR. I personally think that the prices are getting out of hand as it is, but does anyone want to pay $50 a year for fishing priveledges? then add the increase your boat registration fee simialar to your truck registration at $67-$100+ a year depending on the size of your boat, for something you can use in this area if at best 8 months a year? atleast you can use your truck EVERYDAY. |
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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."
These words from Ronald Reagan still ring true today. He said this during his Inaugural Address on January 20, 1981
Adding more and more bureaucracy to solve any problem is usually not the answer
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Location: Westland, Mich. | Gov. Intrusion - 12/24/2006 10:22 PM
Surpised to hear that from someone so pro gun/anti-government intrusion Bill. I Guess that only applies to weapons, huh? LOL
I'd be against an all-inclusive card. Two reasons. One, a system goes down, whether power or technical, it all is lost. Great ID, but what does that little magnetic strip contain and what are you legal for if it can't be read. Also, who's going to foot the bill? The ID would mean almost every officer would have to be equiped with a device to read it or an investment back at the station to access the database. Conservative plan but would require a "tax" increase. Never would happen.
Back to the original topic. I'd be all for a boating license! Too many idiots out there who have no clue and are regularly putting my life at risk. It should be like a drivers license with points. If you're one of those bung-holes who likes to blow no-wake zones or have you kids or drunk buddies hanging all over the boat while it's moving, not only do you get a fine, but you only get to be that stupid a couple of times before your license is suspended.
1. yes, pro gun.
2. no, not anti government. i love this country, the constitution, and politicians who do the job they were elected to do.
3. i don't see how this topic crosses into weapons.
4. without an unprecedented increase in enforcement on the water this proposal would be impossible to implement.
5. get registered and we can talk some more. |
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