Maybe it's too late to turn the tide of overhwhelming Senate (43-0) and House (108-5) support, but AAA Carolinas called on legislators today to uphold Gov. Mike Easley's veto of a bill to relax safety limits on boaters who tow wide boats down narrow roads at night.
The legislature will return to Raleigh Wednesday to consider Easley's veto.
Bryan Beatty, Easley's secretary of crime control and public safety, urged legislators to let the veto stand and wait until next year to work out issues surrounding the bill. He disputed claims that state troopers had issued large numbers of tickets to boaters for violating a law that had been widely ignored and violated for years.
"Last year, Troopers investigated 300 collisions involving motorists transporting boats," Beatty said in e-mails to news organizations. "During 2007, Troopers issued five over width violations to motorists transporting non-commercial boat trailers statewide.
"By comparison, Troopers issued more than 900,000 citations for all violations during 2007. Clearly, Troopers have not targeted boaters."
Rep. Arthur Williams of Washington, N.C., sponsored the bill to relax state limits on the width of boats that fishermen and other recreational boaters can haul on state roads. It would allow boats up to 9.5 feet wide, day or night — and up to 10 feet wide during daylight hours only.
Current law OKs boats up to 8.5 feet wide, day or night, without permits. Motorists now can get permits to haul boats up to 10 feet wide — but not on holidays or Sundays or at night.
“This legislation sailed through the legislature without adequate attention given to the interests of traffic safety,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. “Boat owners have rights, just like motorists, and the legislature’s responsibility is to listen to both sides and develop laws that protect everyone’s interests. Our state’s poor record on overall traffic safety requires that attention to balance. ...
“The good safety record for towing boats that the state has enjoyed will be threatened if this veto is overturned and overlarge boats can travel state roads at anytime,” Parsons noted. “Those boat owners who tow their boats will represent a hazard to oncoming motorists, as well as themselves.”
The Highway Patrol and Easley have warned of increased crashes, especially at night, involving boats wider than 9.5 feet on roads and bridges with travel lanes sometimes less than 9 feet wide. AAA posted a Highway Patrol video clip endorsing Easley's veto.
Supporters said the measure could keep North Carolina from scaring off out-of-state sportsmen who visit popular fishing tournaments here. Sen. Marc Basnight, the Senate leader, said it would help the state protect boat-manufacturing jobs.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter, editor and blogger since 1976, he took over the
Comments
Blame Easley for the extra cost
Tue, 08/26/2008 - 13:04 — aeiouyHad Easley not vetoed the bill, no extra cost would have been incurred. Remember, it passed 108-5 in the House and 44-0 in the Senate. 95% in the House and 100% in the Senate, more than enough to overrule a veto.
other states don't enforce tow law strictly
Tue, 08/26/2008 - 08:58 — RataplanMost other southeastern states don't enforce federal over-wide boat towing regulations, probably because they're smart enough to know fishing and ski boats are recreational vehicles, not commercial vehicles. It's pretty easy to tell -- hey, that's a towed boat and that's an 18-wheeler. Why would they do this? To not harass out-of-state visitors and anglers and encourage tourism. NC apparently doesn't see the benefit to those activities when government can fill its coffers with fines and fees that do nothing for public safety but appear to do something; they get you coming and going -- if you don't buy the license and get caught, you pay the fine and have to buy the licenses; if you buy the licenses, they get the fees that way. Here's some towing laws from SE states: Georgia towing law: travel only restricted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise. Florida towing law: towing permitted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset and Saturdays and Sundays, if a towed vehicle isn't more than 10 feet wide, 13 1/2 feet tall and 55-feet long. Louisiana towing law: permitted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset Monday-Saturday and until 1 p.m. Sunday, if towed vehicle is less than 12 feet wide, 90 feet log and weighs 100,000 pounds or less. Texas towing law: permitted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, Weekend towing permitted if towed vehicle less than 14 feet wide, 110 feet long and 16 feet tall. And now you know why Texas is known for big stuff. Their roads aren't any wider than N.C.'s.
Other states ..
Tue, 08/26/2008 - 06:39 — BruceSiceloff (author)Neighboring and other southeastern states do not allow boat trailers wider than 8.5 feet on the road at night. The special session costs about $50,000.
Wide Boats
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 21:38 — LurchaWhat are the regulations in our neighboring states regarding width limitations? Some consistency should be considered if there is a problem crossing state lines while towing a boat. However, it doesn't appear to be a real problem if the number of violations charged is as small as reported. Don't our legislators have bigger problems to address? How much is this special session going to cost? Do they realize that it will take only one tragic accident with a wide load to make them look really bad?