The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-05-03
HOUSE COMMITTEE
UR ES SAFER
BOATING LAW S
Would Protect Public Against
Cupboard Hazards. And
Owners as Well

| Inc HOUSE OOiiHllJLee OH N16f-
chant Marine and Fisheries has
proposed to Congress major
changes in Federal laws affecting
some % million Americans who GO
afloat on the navigable waters OF
the United States each season for
pleasure.
Climaxing year-long study of
recreational boating in Washing
ton and cities around the country,
the Committee, headed by Repre-
sentative Herbert C. Bonner d.
N. CO., proposed new system of
periodic numbering of boats by
the Coast Guard that would bring
in for the first time over 8 mil
lion outboards under 16 feet, not
now required to have numbers.
The proposal also would require
all other power-driven craft, in
Guiding powered sailboats, up to
65 feet to reminder every three
years. At present such boats need
only register with the Coast Guard
once.
These and other recommended
tions would be embodied in a pro-
posed Boating Act of 1857, which
Chairman Bonner said the staff
was now engaged in drawing up
for early introduction in the House.
Commented the Committee re-
port adopted yesterday: "To be
fully effective, early action is nee
essary. What today is merely a
booming activity may tomorrow
become an emergency" .
The Committee also made a
series of recommendations for the
Secretary of the Treasury, under
whose jurisdiction the Coast Guard
operates, and proposed to State
governors that they join in close
cooperation with the Federal Gov
eminent in "early enactment" of
State laws modelled after the basic
Federal law.
Other highlights of the report,
which Chairman Bonner described
as the most comprehensive ever
drawn up in the pleasure boating
field:
l. The proposed Boating Act to
provide for compulsory reporting
to the Coast Guard by a boat
operator of an accident in which
he is involved.
2. Act to provide for the imposi-
ton by the Coast Guard of civil
penalties for violations of law pro-
hibiting reckless or negligent
operation of pleasure boats. At
present, only criminal penalties
are permitted, and unless someone
is manned or killed, cases seldom
get to the courts.
3. Upon applying for number,
each boat owner to be issued a
Certificate of Award of Number,
with reasonable fee to be
charged. The applicant must certi-
fly to the issuing Coast Guard Of
ficer that he. knows the Rules of
the Road (pilot 'rules for operation
of all boats) and the provisions of
the Boating Act of 1857. A $50
penalty is proposed for failure to
comply with the registration re-
quirements.
4. The Secretary Of the Treasury
to call National Small Boat
Safety Conference of various in
dustry and user groups to discuss
such things as boating, statistics,
construction standards and boating
education programs.
The Committee rejects any plan
for operators licenses for boats,
settling instead on the boat num-
bering and Award of Number pro-
cedure now in effect, on one
shot basis, for many owners. The
Committees comment on operator
licensing: "**existing circ u M
stances do not justify such an ex-
IRENE exercise of regulatory power
at this time The Committee
will keep its eye upon the SIT
uation and observe closely the
action taken by the industry in the
field of education"
1t also turned down any plans
for legislating minimum age for
boat operators, and suggested the
regulation of persons in the boat
livery business can best be per-
formed by the States.
The Committee, which heard
some 300 witnesses in nearly a
score of cities since the study was
approved last May, praised the
industry represented by the Ma
tional Association of Engine and
Boat Manufacturers and the Out
board Boating Club of America
for first suggesting the study.
However, the report served
plain notice on the industry and
other groups that it must take
steps to educate the many new
corners to boating in the elementals
of safety.