Virginia Boating Safety Law Editorial, Veto?
McAuliffe Should Veto Boating Bill
Posted: Friday, March 14, 2014 6:00 am
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Sitting on the desk of Gov. Terry McAuliffe, waiting on his signature or veto, is a seemingly innocuous bill — House Bill 650, dealing with boating safety and training requirements for a small group of Virginia watermen.
It’s a bill few people likely know about, but it deserves a gubernatorial veto, because it is the proverbial camel’s nose under the tent that could affect a major waterway safety law that’s rooted in a local tragedy almost nine years ago.
In August 2005, Central Virginia witnessed one of the most horrific boating accidents on Smith Mountain Lake in years.
Mark Detournillon, who was later convicted of operating his speedboat while impaired, crashed into a houseboat, owned by Judith and Lawrence Lewis. Detournillon’s high-speed boat literally rode over the Lewises’ houseboat, instantly killing them and their pet dog. Detournillon is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for the incident.
In the wake of the deadly accident, Central Virginia legislators came together behind legislation to put in place a strict program of boater safety and education. Those wanting to operate a boat on the state’s waterways were required to take in-depth safety training on an ongoing basis to renew their licenses, much like the operators of motor vehicles.
The legislation, spearheaded by state Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, went into effect in 2007 and has been credited by law enforcement agencies with a major drop in boating accidents since.
But the law didn’t sit well with folks in the waterman’s industry. They didn’t believe they should be subject to the same licensing and training requirements as pleasure boaters. In the 2014 session of the General Assembly, Del. Margaret Ransone, R-Westmoreland County, introduced legislation that could have gutted the safety regulations. As originally introduced, House Bill 650 would have exempted any boat license holder older than 41 years and who had been licensed for six years from the classes and training requirement, along with exemptions carved out for watermen.
Central Virginia and Smith Mountain Lake area legislators were understandably upset with Ransone’s bill. Backed by lake residents, law enforcement agencies and the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, they went to work to preserve the 2007 law.
And for the most part, they succeeded.
When the Ransone bill emerged from the House of Delegates and state Senate, the only major change that remained was an exemption from the safety and training classes for the holders of specific types of fishing and harvesting licenses granted by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
In the Senate, the vote to approve the amended bill was 35 to 3; one of the three no votes was Sen. Newman.
In the House of Delegates, the vote was much closer, 63 to 35; all of Central Virginia’s representatives were opposed: Dels. Kathy Byron, Ben Cline, Scott Garrett and Terry Austin.
That tally should tell the governor all he needs to know about the possible impact of this bill.
This amended bill truly is the camel’s nose under the tent, laying the groundwork for future weakening of the law. The original bill only failed because lake residents, their legislators and other stakeholders mobilized against it.
Veto this legislation, Gov. McAuliffe, and take a stand for waterway safety across the commonwealth.
http://www.newsadvance.com/opinion/e...a4bcf6878.html
