JET SKI SAFTEY, AND REGULATION LAWS POLL

[WOBBLE HEAD]

I have just asked site adm. to run a poll for me. I have been talking to Tenn State Rep. Vince Dean about making a law for jet skiers, to have to go thru a safety course, and to have an age requirements. He is very interested in this poll for safety reason because he is a pleasure boater also. But of course the problem is that you can't have laws just against the jet skiers. The law would have to be for all water craft, which also includes us fisherman. What the poll will be getting at is would you as a fisherman / boater be willing to take a test, go thru a safety course, get a license, or do what every it takes to make the jet skier have to go thru a safety course and maybe have a little bit of common since taught to them.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A LARGE TURN OUT ON THIS POLL FOR IT TO CARRY IN WEIGHT. I will be printing out the poll and any remarks anyone has. I will give this information to State Rep. Vince Dean myself.
Please be on the look out for this poll, if enough interest is shown this might be the first step in getting something done about most of these jet skiers who have no common sense or any knowledge about water safety and the safe handling of a water craft. As most of you know these jet ski's are going to get someone hurt of killed if something is not done to teach them.
Last week I saw a little boy who couldn't have been over 7 years old on a jet ski out in the middle of the lake all by himself, with no one else around. I guess my point is where on earth was this kids parents? If they don't care for the own child we have to. This kids parents need to have a law to effect so they can be fined and be made to have a little bit of common sense with their child....

ANY WAYS PLEASE REPLY TO POLL WHEN IT'S POSTED....

 

[Guest]

I'm against any more laws, we have plenty on the books now. The laws we have now need to be enforced, if you see a boater of any kind operating a machine recclessly, report them, get the number off the boat and call the water police. If a new law was enacted then everyone would need to take all kinds of safty courses just to get the idiots off the water or get them to follow safe guidelines and these new laws would have to be enforced. I believe it is the publics place to turn in the bad boaters, get pictures if you can to back up your complaints.

 

[foodsaver]

Personally I have seen just as many rude and inconsiderate people in bass boats and ski boats as I have on jet ski's I am all in favor of an age requirement to operate a boat but some of the biggest problems I have had have been people my dads age in their giant cruisers not paying attention to who their wake affects. I don't think you can teach common sense and decency, thats something that parents should take care of at home.

 

[jon the fisherman]

Doc1 - 6/1/2008 2:52 PM

I'm against any more laws, we have plenty on the books now.

I agree

 

[EricM]

Current Tennessee laws require that anyone born after January 1, 1989 MUST complete the TWRA Boating Safety Exam and carry the certificate when operating a vessel. If under 12 years old, they must have a supervisor on board at least 18 years old. There are more rules, and a list of unlawful operations, including reckless, negligent, and dangerous operation. It is really up to us to report these operations, since the enforcement officers cannot possibly be everywhere. The laws exist - they just need to be enforced. Help out!

 

[sdfd29]

I may be mistaken, but I think there are regulations on the books now concerning the operation of jet ski's and other watercraft on the books already. When I took the TWRA boating safety class two years ago (with my son so he could operate a boat by himself) they discussed the age requirements. I know that it was above 7 years old to operate a jet ski without an adult on board. If my memory is right, I think it is a minimum of 12 years of age to operate a jet ski alone. Plus, everyone born after early 1989 has to complete a boater safety class to operate any watercraft by themselves.

You might want to check the regulations, I think the laws are already on the books.

(I guess EricM was typing his answer at the same time that I was.)emoBang

 

[Guest]

jon the fisherman - 6/1/2008 4:40 PM

Doc1 - 6/1/2008 2:52 PM

I'm against any more laws, we have plenty on the books now.

I agree

Me too. It is just like the gun laws, plenty in place now if they were just enforced.
I have had way more bad experiences with bass boats than all pleasure boats and jetskis combined.

 

[Hal]

There are already laws covering watercraft actions. What are the numbers of the water patrols which could enforce these laws? Please post them here. Save those numbers in your cell phone.
The idea of the pictures will go a long way if you show those to the officials, especially when the officials show up on the scene to enforce the laws. I'm sure that most who fish regularly in this area carry a camera with them.
Don't be afraid to get involved. In the end you just might save someone's life, emoThumbsup emoSmile

 

[Carl Guffey]

If you can't operate a motorized vehicle on dry land with brakes until you are 16, then why in the ____ can you do it on water, with out brakes. Any parent that would put a child on a 1200 cc+ jet ski is a FOOL....

 

[Guest]

emoProtest No more laws! first its jet ski's then other things ...i wish it was back to the way it was in the old'n daysemoThanks

 

[Liveliner]

I firmly agree, "No new laws". Enforce what we have now.</p>

It is not just kids on PWCs, Stupid comes in all shapes and sizes.</p>

 

[THutch]

Guffey, You hit the nail square! I own a jet ski that will do well over 60 mph and it scares me. I see kids everywhere not more than 14 yrs old riding these things with absolutely no understanding of vehicle control or real world liability. No matter how safe they may seem to be riding them, does any 12 yr old need to be in control of something so fast in a completely uncontrolled environment? I think not. I am comfortable with the laws currently in place but think we should revisit the age limit for unsupervised riders.

 

[Cathooker]

I have had way more bad experiences with bass boats than all pleasure boats and jetskis combined.

AMEN!!!