The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-09-09
SAFETY RULES FOR
BOATS ENFORCED;
VIOLATION COSTLY
Coast Guard is Warning Offend.
ers Who Fail TO Observe Laws;
Use of Boats Increases

comply with Federal Boating Reg
ulations is proving costly to some
boatmen according to violation re-
ports on file at Fifth Coast Guard
District headquarters here.
Violation reports have be en-
coming in at a tremendous rate,
according to Captain C. F. Perry,
whose Division of Merchant Ma
rine Safety handles the reports
received from Coast Guard board
ing parties in North Carolina,
Virginia, and Maryland.
1.-TWO reasons for the deluge of
violations" Captain Perry pointed
out, "are the steady increase in
use of waterways by the public;
and the stepped up boarding activ-
ity by the Coast Guard, which has
been made possible by additional
personnel and equipment"
The reports, which total % per
cent over last years figure at this
time, range in monetary penalties
or fines from $50 for violation of
numbering requirements, to a top
of $4,000 for reckless or negligent
boat operation.
In picking out the key violations
for which boatmen have been cit
ed, Perry revealed that % per
cent of the reports involved lack
of approved lifesaving devices in
the boat; and that % per cent in
volved reckless or negligent mo-
torboat operations.
In the latter category, he noted
that many of the reckless or neg
ligent cases concern teen-agers,
some of whom could not legally
operate a motor vehicle on the
highways, but who are given ac-
cess to high-powered motorboats.
He further stressed that both the
owner and the operator of motor
boats are liable under Federal
Statues for penalties assessed for
violating Federal Motorboat Reg
ulations.
"The time when one can go
boating, and have the stream or
waterway all to himself has pass
ed" the Marine Safety head re-
marked.
"Now-a-days, the lakes, beaches
and streams are packed with i
swimmers, water-skiers, and boat
men. Therefore, prudence and ex-
IRENE caution on the part of
boatmen is must in order to
continue to keep pleasure boating
the safest of outdoor sports"
An example of the boating vio-
lations encountered by Coast
Guard Boarding officials is con-
tanned in the following typical
Operating at nj hit without
lights seems like an open invita-
ton to disaster, but one boatman
was apprehended twice in the
same night. The penalty for oper-
ating without lights is 800.
In another incident, 14foot
cupboard operator was cited for
operating in a reckless and negli-
gent manner by running in and
out of the racing pit area during
a regatta. This same boat inter-
ferred with racing craft and ran
in circles in front of the starting
boat. AS if this wasn't enough,
there were no lifesaving devices
aboard. Penalty, 500 for each vio-
lation. /
Here's a costly one. A vessel
proceeding down a narrow chan
mel and meeting another vessel
coming up, failed to sound whistle
passing signals, causing both YES
sells to maneuver erratically to
avoid collision. Penalty for this
violation of the Inland Rules OF
the Road was $500.
In another situation, a $1,000
fine was assessed the owner and
operator of a fishing vessel for
carrying more than six passengers
without being inspected and GER
titled. This is in violation of Pub
lie Law $40, which regulates small
passenger carrying vessels.
In a final example, a penalty of
$500 was assessed against a mo-
torboatman who failed to yield
the right of way to a sail vessel,
causing a collision between the
two vessels. Luckily no one was
seriously injured, and both boats
were able to proceed under their
own power to a local marina.
Captain Perry emphasized that
although stiff penalties are posi-
BILE when violations are discover
ed, the Coast Guard is not inter-
ested in assessing penalties, but
rather with securing compliance
with the laws that are intended
to promote boating safety.