Region 4 Noise

[sam]

From Wheeler Baker via Tim Lee

Lady's and Gentelman of our great boat racing nation. We here in Maryland are in danger of loosing all of our race sights due to some state legislative bill outlawing racing noise. According to Wheeler Baker, this bill is going un-opposed. As soon as Wheel get's some e-mails addresses and phone #'s we need to send out ...a strong message to our law makers. Everyones help is needed. Please Post so everyone knows

The Maryland legislature is in its 7th day of this year's 90 day session ... we will need to get on top of this and get rid of it

[HRTV]

Hey Sam,

If O'Malley gets his way over the next few weeks in Annapolis we are going to loose a whole lot more then just racing. His budget cuts now on the table will turn Maryland into a ghost town!

[sam]

He's not proposing much in the way of budget cuts, he's looking for more federal gift money (yeah taking it from states that have not overspent) and accounting tricks: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,3327750.story

44 proposed layoffs, no ghost town ... just higher taxes later when it doesn't work and the federal government can't give away any more

[sam]

Back to the original subject ... the bill is SB 70

Ok folks here it is. If all of us boat racers can e-mail these Delegates and please ask them to keep the exception to Senate Bill 70 ( SB 70 ) to read " Vessels participating or preparing to participate in a U.S. Coast Guard or Department approved race or event;" If we don't do this we might loose racing in MD.

http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/0...tml/senal.html

All Marylanders need to contact their senator and ask them to vote against the new law or at least continue the existing exemptions for sanctioned races and associated testing. (Unlike the US legislature, bills start in the MD senate.)

[thepiranhabros]

Back to the original subject ... the bill is SB 70



http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/0...tml/senal.html

All Marylanders need to contact their senator and ask them to vote against the new law or at least continue the existing exemptions for sanctioned races and associated testing. (Unlike the US legislature, bills start in the MD senate.)

Oh good Lord! One would think racing noise would be at the bottom of any legislature's agenda given the current state of affairs across our country. Get out there and yell like hell, Marylanders! And if there's anything we can do from here in the midwest, you've certainly got my support.

Michael Mackey
21-V

[Steve77t]

Are you Yankees ready for some succession from the Union Yet? This hopey change crap is bad for racing too!

[Mark 72@E]

Researching Maryland SB 70

Researching Maryland SB 70

From: http://www.stateside.com/this-week-in-the-states.php

MARYLAND

The Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee will meet January 19 to discuss S.B. 70, which prohibits a person from owning or operating a vessel on state waters unless the vessel meets certain requirements and regulations for noise suppression.



From: http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/SB0070.htm

Synopsis:

Altering the maximum allowable noise level from 90dB(a) to 88dB(a) for a vessel on the waters of the State with an engine manufactured on or after a specified date; and prohibiting a person from owning or operating a vessel in State waters unless the vessel meets specified requirements and regulations for noise suppression.


Attached is the first reading of the bill in PDF. Or download directly from:

http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/bills/sb/sb0070f.pdf

Also attached is something called a Fiscal and Policy Note in PDF. Or download directly from:

http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/fnote...000/sb0070.pdf

[burl11]

Here is the Code of the Hills in Tennessee

Already in effect:

Engines of all motorized vessels must have an effective muffling system. The noise level of any motorized vessel may not exceed 86 decibels at 50 feet or more. Manufacturers may not sell vessels which do not meet the noise level requirements.

Enforcement though seems to be lenient. We have plenty of above water exhaust I/Os and bass boats which I believe are above 86 db.

[Bill Huson]

Not again!

Many moons ago Maryland passed a noise abatement law for watercraft, and at the time raceboats were threatened. I guess we were exempted that time. Back then the target vessels were those evil PWCs. Apparently at lot of prissy boaters couldn't stand the sight of someone actually having fun while on a PWC - must be evil!

Wonder if I could use the fact I've lived in six burgs in Maryland over my long years to lobby the MD legislators. Six burgs in six different counties and three regions: Eastern Shore, Southern MD, and Balmer - I could pester all of them!

[pakman]

Exempt

The proposed bill says DNR will allow exemptions for Coast Guard approved races. I don't think we are at risk of races being banned because of this law.

"Vessels participating or preparing to participate in a U.S. Coast
Guard or Department approved race or event;"

[sam]

The original draft lacked the exemption and until its passed or defeated, it can go either way

We can be lazy and get steamrollered (as happened in NJ) or we can be vigilant and keep things on track

By the way ... any chance of getting things straightened out for the kids in NJ?