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Leave wide loads to experience
Our Voice
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Published: August 26, 2008
The General Assembly must reconvene to dispose of a veto by Gov. Mike Easley. The bill would allow the towing of wider boats without a special permit.
By law, legislators must reconsider a vetoed bill and vote to sustain or override the veto. There's a time limit on reconsideration. Action on a veto can't wait until the next regular session.
Easley is against increasing the width of boats that can be towed without a special permit. He says it's too dangerous. We agree with the governor.
We're not the only one siding with Easley.
Bryan Beatty, secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, offers his perspective:
"This legislation, if it becomes law, would allow wider boat trailers on our highways during the day and at night. The Highway Patrol's concern with this legislation is that 9-½ foot-wide boats traveling on our highways at night, when visibility is limited, will increase collisions.
"As with commercial vehicles, transporting these wider boats takes increased concentration and skill. I was disappointed that the General Assembly rejected the proposal to reduce the blood alcohol content for motorists towing wider boat trailers since it endangers lives. These issues represent safety concerns that we feel need to be addressed before we can support the proposed legislation.
"Last year, troopers investigated 300 collisions involving motorists transporting boats. During 2007, troopers issued five over-width violations to motorists transporting non-commercial boat trailers statewide. Troopers issued more than 900,000 citations for all violations during 2007. Clearly, troopers have not targeted boaters.
"This legislation, as written, will jeopardize safety on our highways," Beatty said.
His conclusions are valid. Oversized loads should be transported by people with certified experience.
North Carolina boasts a successful boat industry, manufacturing and retail. Many boats can be towed without special permits.
Boat owners and manufacturers know how to cope with wide-load boats. We see no reason to change the law or override the governor's veto.
We don't need added danger on our already crowded highways.
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