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Easley's right to ban bigger boats and longer trailers. The roads are dangerous enough now –don't let this become Texas or California!

Why not implement a 12-18 month trial period on both these issues, while data is compiled. If things go well, the law can become permanent, if there are too many issues, and hopefully nothing tragic, it will expire. A full year plus will cover all types of weather, daylight differences, and recreational times.

Wide boats (10 feet, 6 inches or wider) have been towed on NC highways for years with NO SAFETY issues. Only in the last 1 1/2 years has the NC Highway Patrol begun pulling over towed boats and issuing tickets and requiring recreational boat owners, some of them out-of-state saltwater tournament fishermen, to park their towed boats on the side of the road until they paid thousands of dollars in fines and to obtain licenses. SAFETY NEVER HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH TOWED WIDE BOATS. That's why the House and Senate approved the bill. They looked into the problem.

The real problem is attaching the extra-long trailers proposal to the boat-towing proposal. They are separate issues.

Eastern NC towns and cities that host N.C. boaters, many who tow their boats from central NC, including Raleigh, are worried about losing income from visiting fishermen, who in the past have spent millions of dollars annually on rooms, lodging and food, along with bait, tackle and gasoline.

Other eastern seaboard states, particularly South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, will gladly accept the tourist and tournaments if N.C. insists on enforcing a rule that in other states is not enforced as stringently.

If towed boats had caused a rash of accidents, I could see the measure being necessary. But it isn't. Boat owners, who often have $100,000 or more invested in their boats, are extremely careful drivers.

It seems the legislature is too often playing to the wishes of special interests at the expense of the needs of the majority of our citizens...wider boats? longer trailers?...just an invitation to tragic traffic accidents.

I've got a suggestion. If these Bubba's that are whining about the law feel like they can't fish in tournament's because of it, why don't they just think about teaming up with a friend or relative that hasn't gone to big. Besides, now is the time for Americans to downsize and cut energy consumption. Better get used to it boys!
Just call your buddy up that has a boat that's 8 feet and go out and slay some mackeral.

The title should be, “Big Bucks Fill One Elected Officials Pockets as He Endangers North Carolina Citizens."

We elect officials to look out for our (North Carolina citizens) well being, not special interests or even worse, personal interests. Being elected and owning a marina does not qualify as a reason to put others in peril.

If the Governor's veto is overridden, I hope that all the names of those who do so are made public (which is doubtful with the current administration) so that when someone is injured or dies as a result from an accident from an oversized floating home, their family members will know who’s name should be on the summons.

We own a pontoon boat that is 8 feet 2 inches at the widest point and I have had to slow down and allow a big truck to cross a rural small creek bridge before I crossed simply because the truck was on the yellow line as it crossed. If someone with a boat wider than the lane is in the same scenario, Bingo, the road is closed due to an accident and the Highway Patrol is called out to an event that should never have occurred.

I say, “Way to Gov, thanks for thinking of those of us who might have to slide into a ditch or an ambulance so that someone’s 3800 square foot floating home can pass.”

For those who believe a trial period is needed, I have to ask, “How many accidents, injuries, or deaths do we consider to be a trial period?”

NO!
This will only lead to accidents and traffic deaths. The special interests or a few must not override the safety of NC citizens.
If fact, people who pull trailers of any kind 10 feet wide and over should be required to have a commercial drivers license!

Permitting wider boats assumes:

(1)Trailer drivers will stay between left & right lane boundaries always....no room for error.....not possible.
(2) road & weather conditions are always, that is, always optimal.....not realistic.

IN a perfect world......