share.triangle.com - Big boats and state roads - Comments

I'm in favor for limiting

Tim Butler — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:28:01 -0400

I'm in favor for limiting really wide boats after dark. Most of the trailers are poorly lit and dangerous to pass at night.

In all honesty I think that

Visitor — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:22:35 -0400

In all honesty I think that is just another way for the gov.
to get more of the workingmans money.

Facts vs Politics

Visitor — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:56:28 -0400

This law will not change the size of boats/trailers that have been towed on NC highways for years. Those towing have proven to be among the safest users of the roadways. The NCSHP was told by someone that they were to start enforcing a law that they had ignored for years. This was not a safety issue as there hadn't been any measurable number of accidents associated with boat towing. This was a simply political power play. The boaters did not have a lobbyist. The state of North carolina used the NCSHP as there lobbyist producing misleading a video and making misleading statements while never producing the often requested data that would show that boat towing in NC was not a safety issue. The legislators saw what was going on and intervened.

Where is the reason? In their pockets!

KEITHF — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:20:58 -0400

Are they courteous? Will the tower pull over to permit traffic to pass? I have seen drivers who are hesitant to pass a large vehicle on an interstate highway. How will they manage on a state road?
This action benefits no one except the wealthy boat owner who wants to move his boat from state to state. How many are there? The manufacturer can move the boat by permit to the buyer. Why must the buyer then move it again? I suppose there are reasons. The sport fisherman for one. Buy a smaller boat!
My opinion is that the lobbyists have done their job and paid the piper. The legislators put their head in the sand and blindly voted. Someone in the legislature must carry a big stick.
A bad decision! I hope the patrol keeps valid statistics starting now. But how do we pass the fault back to this legislature?

Seems Dangerous

Visitor — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:03:00 -0400

I can't imagine how towing a 10 foot trailer on the narrow and winding country roads here in central NC would be safe given the width of the road and limited visibility of not just oncoming traffic but also pedestrians and cyclists on the shoulder. Over the past few years, I've seen a number of close calls and one accident with a trailer, I think mostly due to drivers who temporarily forget much longer and wider their trailer is compared to their vehicle. Rather than changing the law, I think the highway patrol should exercise some judgment within the current laws. If the trailer is on a modern road built to federal highway standards, the driver who is staying in their lane is not endangering anyone.

Limited-use Permits Not Thought of.

Roman Cicero — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:11:00 -0400

Everyone missed the boat on this one. The state law should have required the purchase of permits for hauling oversized boats. These could be good for one year and another special trailering permit purchased again if the hauler wants to continue pulling these oversized hazards on the roads. Public safety could be maximized and our State treasury helped out at the same time.

The first time I hit one

Visitor — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:31:00 -0400

The first time I or anybody else gets in a wreck on a two lane bringe because of one of these things, the state will be the one with the lawsuit. This is an inreadibly stupid law passed exclusivly for more wealthy individuals who don't even live here full time. I grew up here but the older I get the more I think our leaders are so busy whoring us out to whoever will make us a bundle that they fail to listen to the people who where born and have generations of roots here. Look no further than Cary, Chapel Hill, or other places to see that.

Legislature override of Governor's veto

Visitor — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:09:00 -0400

Personally, I think the results of this vote are beyond stupid. I would like to see the names of each legislator (listed with his/her district) and how each voted on this issue. Some roads in this State (e.g., Highway 64 west of Transylvania County) are dangerous with just one small car on them.

Apparently those who object

The Process — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:11:00 -0400

Apparently those who object don’t do much research and are casting their objection with emotion and not the facts. The boats of which you speak of have been on the roads for the past 30+ years. This is nothing new to this state. All the statistics show that towed boats are extremely safe. Out of the 350,000+ accidents over the past three years only a handful of those involved boats over 8'6" (I believe I read 1% of .12 %). And no statistics were ever offered by the state to who was at fault. Further more the state offered absolutely "0" factual statistics to prove over the past 30+ years that these towed boats are unsafe. Why wouldn’t the state offer the statistics? I say kudos to the hard work of the boaters, the Boating Industry as well as the Tourism Industry for getting this done. Do you realize that this was a bipartisan success? No bickering no arguing Democrats and Republicans agreeing. It was also a great example of how the democratic process works.

big boats

Visitor — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:59:00 -0400

How in Blue Blazes can our elected officials allow boats over 8.5 ft.,driven mostly by individuals without CDL training or liscence on public highways.I am an avid fisherman,but putting trailer 9.5-10.5 on a 9.0 wide road is not worth any tourney regardless of economic or charity losses!N.C.DOT has rules and regs. for large and oversize vechicles driven by professional drivers.They can not work nights, weekends, or holidays even with escorts.So why in HELL would anyone think a bunch of fishermen should be allowed to do what professional drivers are not allowed to do as a source of income.This is a matter of BIG BUCKS AND BIGGER EGOS!If you have ever been on the water with these 2,3,even 4 engine trailer boats you know why they are sure that the law, or common courtesy does not apply to them.

What is with these

Visitor — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:20:16 -0400

What is with these bone-headed legislators? The State Highway Patrol says this is dangerous. Kudos to the Governor for listening to them instead of boat owners and special interests.

Business Interest Trumps Public Interest

NCPolitics — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:51:00 -0400

Once again the business interests of the state have trumped the interests of the public. I hope lawmakers remember this when the next accident takes a life or critically injures a family. And once again, Democrats find themselves acting like Republicans.

Wide mobile homes haven't caused problems

Visitor — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:13:33 -0400

At first I was leaning towards Easley on this, but then I thought about all of those wide loads carrying sections of mobile homes on our highways.

I don't ever recall hearing about many accidents with hauling extra wide mobile homes.

Are the wide boat widths about the same as mobile homes? If so, then this is not an issue.

Big Boats?

Visitor — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:57:58 -0400

Everyone that has a problem with this bill being passed should have had a comment to your represntive. The fisherman of this State took a stand. I know a lot of you that are complaining have boats that you also tow to fish. Well guess what if you read the fine print you would have seen the Govenor wanted to make the size boat you could tow at night and weekends smaller. Meaning that all you bass fisherman would be buying permits for your 18 and 20 foot boat just like someone with a 26 foot boat. So if you own a boat of any size I would not be complaining.

Special Interests

John — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:44:47 -0400

We have a bunch of self-serving politicians who are in the back pockets of special interests. I recently read a story about a new law passed this session allowing heavier trucks (90,000lbs plus) on secondary roads that were not designed to handle the weight. Not to mention the bridges that would also be affected. Is this stupid or what? At a time when the DOT is running out of money used for repairing our roads and bridges, the very lawmakers that are talking about raising our taxes to generate the additionl revenue, are allowing the roads and bridges to be destroyed!! Next time you hit a pot-hole or go across a bridge that looks like it could collapse at any moment, call and thank your representative!!

Big boats and state roads

mwilliam — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:13:39 -0400

Should the General Assembly override Gov. Mike Easley's veto of relaxed rules for hauling wide-bodied boats on North Carolina roads?