Kwicherbichen
09-07-2004, 12:30 AM
Bill That Will Outlaw ‘Teak Surfing’ Passes Legislature
Thursday, September 02, 2004
By Louis Gerlinger
Log News Service - If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs a bill passed by the Legislature, “teak surfing,” “platform dragging,” and “body surfing” from a powerboat will be illegal in California beginning Jan.1, 2005.
It will be an infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $100, to -
• operate a motorized vessel or run its engine at idle speed while someone is teak surfing, platform dragging, or bodysurfing behind the vessel, or
• to do so while someone is occupying or holding onto the swim platform, swim deck, swim step, or swim ladder of the vessel.
The prohibition would not apply when an individual is assisting with the docking or departure of the vessel, while exiting or entering the vessel, or while the vessel is engaged in law-enforcement or emergency-rescue activity.
The measure, which passed the Legislature on Aug. 25, also requires that state-sponsored boating-safety courses incorporate information about the dangers of carbon-monoxide poisoning.
Additionally, after May 1, 2005, stickers warning about the dangers of carbon-monoxide poisoning must be affixed to all new and used motorized vessels sold in California.
The bill (Assembly Bill 2222), known as the Anthony Farr and Stacy Beckett Boating Safety Act of 2004, was introduced by Assembly Member Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, in February.
Koretz said the bill was named for members of two California families who lost their lives due to carbon-monoxide poisoning around boats.
In May of 2003, 11-year-old Anthony Farr of El Dorado Hills died at Folsom Lake after being overcome by carbon monoxide while bodysurfing behind a family friendÂ’s boat. In July of 2000, 15-year-old Stacy Beckett of Ontario died while platform dragging behind a boat in Mexico.
Koretz said that many others around the country have lost their lives or have been poisoned by carbon monoxide while teak surfing during the past three years.
Most boaters aren’t aware that they are breathing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide from the boat’s engine when they do that, Koretz said. “Carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous because you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it,” he said, “and high levels of it can kill you in minutes.”
According to the legislation, “teak surfing” or “platform dragging” means holding onto the swim platform, swim deck, swim step, swim ladder, or any portion of the exterior of the transom of a motorized vessel for any amount of time while the vessel is underway at any speed.
“Body surfing” is defined as swimming or floating on one’s stomach or one’s back on or in the wake directly behind a motorized vessel that is underway.
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Is this something we really need, more legislation and tax dollars spent on the stupid people? How are we as a society going to thin the herd?
Thursday, September 02, 2004
By Louis Gerlinger
Log News Service - If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs a bill passed by the Legislature, “teak surfing,” “platform dragging,” and “body surfing” from a powerboat will be illegal in California beginning Jan.1, 2005.
It will be an infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $100, to -
• operate a motorized vessel or run its engine at idle speed while someone is teak surfing, platform dragging, or bodysurfing behind the vessel, or
• to do so while someone is occupying or holding onto the swim platform, swim deck, swim step, or swim ladder of the vessel.
The prohibition would not apply when an individual is assisting with the docking or departure of the vessel, while exiting or entering the vessel, or while the vessel is engaged in law-enforcement or emergency-rescue activity.
The measure, which passed the Legislature on Aug. 25, also requires that state-sponsored boating-safety courses incorporate information about the dangers of carbon-monoxide poisoning.
Additionally, after May 1, 2005, stickers warning about the dangers of carbon-monoxide poisoning must be affixed to all new and used motorized vessels sold in California.
The bill (Assembly Bill 2222), known as the Anthony Farr and Stacy Beckett Boating Safety Act of 2004, was introduced by Assembly Member Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, in February.
Koretz said the bill was named for members of two California families who lost their lives due to carbon-monoxide poisoning around boats.
In May of 2003, 11-year-old Anthony Farr of El Dorado Hills died at Folsom Lake after being overcome by carbon monoxide while bodysurfing behind a family friendÂ’s boat. In July of 2000, 15-year-old Stacy Beckett of Ontario died while platform dragging behind a boat in Mexico.
Koretz said that many others around the country have lost their lives or have been poisoned by carbon monoxide while teak surfing during the past three years.
Most boaters aren’t aware that they are breathing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide from the boat’s engine when they do that, Koretz said. “Carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous because you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it,” he said, “and high levels of it can kill you in minutes.”
According to the legislation, “teak surfing” or “platform dragging” means holding onto the swim platform, swim deck, swim step, swim ladder, or any portion of the exterior of the transom of a motorized vessel for any amount of time while the vessel is underway at any speed.
“Body surfing” is defined as swimming or floating on one’s stomach or one’s back on or in the wake directly behind a motorized vessel that is underway.
************************************
Is this something we really need, more legislation and tax dollars spent on the stupid people? How are we as a society going to thin the herd?