PWC Legislation Information - Article submitted to Personal Watercraft Illustrated by Dave Norwood - Way to go Dave - The Sabi membership agrees fully - Text Below.
Hello,
I am a National Parks Pass holder (2001 xx xxxx xxxx) and Utah State Parks permit holder (xxxxxx). I am also an IJSBA and AWA member. My wife and I both hold 4 year college degrees and forfeit a large portion of our earnings to state and federal taxes.
I purchased my first Jet Ski (yes, a true Jet Ski that you stand on) over 10 years ago. I now have one stand-up and one sit-down. Until 5 or 6 years ago, I didn't have to worry about being banned on public bodies of water. It seems the increased use of sit-down PWC's has created some problems. Just about anyone, with no skill, respect, or training, can jump on a sit-down and go 70 MPH. I believe this has caused much of the PWC hate I now see out there.
It seems to me that everyone on a PWC is lumped into this group of unskilled and rude people. Just as it is wrong to break laws and endanger others on the water with a PWC, it is also wrong to stereotype all PWC owners as trouble makers. I have NEVER received a citation, in any form, from riding one of my Jet Skis. Yet, my right to ride is taken from me because of the actions of others or because of "junk science."
Please consider the DD (Drunk Driving) problem of the 1980s. Did we ban all private vehicles from being on the road between 10pm and 4am on Friday and Saturday nights to reduce DD accidents and deaths? Did we force everyone to use public transportation during these times and on holidays when DD is common? In other words, did we penalize everyone who drives a car for the actions of a few irresponsible drunk drivers? Everything I say above could have been done to resolve the DD problem. But these actions were not taken as it would have punished people for the actions of others, not the way we do things in America.
But DD deaths have plummeted over the last 20 years. How can this be? Maybe because the problem was not attacked with "knee jerk" reactions. It would have been easy to just ban all cars during times most DD accidents occur. That would have been the lazy answer, it doesn't take much thinking to just say "get rid of them all." Instead of lazy knee jerk reactions, the American people chose to use education, stiffer penalties, and enforcement to curb DD. And it has worked, DD deaths are drastically down and people still get to drive on Friday and Saturday nights. Why not apply that same logic to the Jet Ski "problem." Educate PWC owners on the rules of the water (and those operating legacy boats). Ticket those who don't follow the laws (whether on a PWC or in a boat). These are sane and fair ways of addressing this issue. But to single out PWC and create special laws for them is a violation of my rights.
Create a driver's license for water craft. I have a motorcycle endorsement to drive my bike because it is not the same as a car. Why not apply that same logic to water craft? And DO NOT just apply such a rule to PWC's. I have personally been almost ran over by a 16 year old kid flying around a lake in his dad's high power bass boat. A boat is a boat, treat all of them exactly the same when creating regulations and laws. We would all be safer if everyone driving any type of boat was trained and licensed. I think it is great that motorized boats are banned from some lakes. We need that type of resource management. However, to allow one person with a 220 HP bass boat on a lake and then say my 75 HP Jet Ski is not allowed does not make sense and violates my rights. I pay my taxes, registration fees, launch fees, and park fees... don't take away my right to use our nation's resources because I choose a PWC over a traditional boat.
There are rude people riding PWC that don't care about anyone else on the water, they only care about there own enjoyment. In effect, they force their needs/views on others. There are also people out there who choose to enjoy the water in different ways. Maybe they don't like motorized boats in any form and Jet Skis are an easy target. Or, they like to fish and want the lake all to themselves. These people are exactly the same as the rude PWC owner... they only care about their own needs are are intolerant of other people's needs or desires. Intolerance is a terrible thing, we must share our natural resources and find a balance.
Please don't persecute me for the actions of others. And please be aware of those who only want our natural resources for themselves. The self-righteous can be very dangerous. We will fight back if our rights to use our nation's water ways are trampled on. Please do the right thing... education and enforcement for ALL water craft.
Sincerely, Dave Norwood