NH Marine Patrol funding, or lack there of

Skip · 07-25-2006, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

...Am I alone in thinking that there's plenty of MP on lake right now and I see no need to fund them any more than they already get? ...

Nope Dave, you're not alone at all!

Skip

jrc · 07-25-2006, 11:02 PM

Airwaves, do you work in DC

Boater's get a refund on gasoline taxes, because that tax is a road tax. You want to add an MP tax on gasoline and pretend you didn't because it's happens to be the same rate as the road tax. If you set the rate a little lower than the road tax, you could claim that it was a tax cut.

In general, I like the feel of the lake as DaveR puts it. Weekends in the area between the Weirs channel and Eagle Island can be crazy. And I'm sure there are other intermitent hot spots. But the bulk of the lake is a paradise. I could boat on the cape, Boston harbor, Glouster, Moosehead, Sebago, Squam or even Champlain. I chose Winnipesaukee because it has everything.

The only issue I had with the MP was their show of force at the sandbar. The MP should patrol the lake. If they see infractions or just un-safe activities, they should address them. They should give advice, warnings or tickets using their best judgement or some reasonable guidelines. Tying up 10 officers for hours to give out parking tickets (no rafting) on a busy afternoon seemed misguided.

Now I guess if we had a huge amount of MP officers, they could patrol every nook and cranny, still have enough staff to blanket the sandbar. I don't think we need that.

John A. Birdsall · 07-27-2006, 11:09 PM

JRC, I have seen the conjestion, and problems caused at the sandbar in question, and I think the land owners need to have some respect. Not all out their are causing a problem, but a parking lot on the lake is sort of dumb. Someone has to get hurt before anyone does anything? I think the marine patrol deserve a hand on the back for doing the job, to protect and serve.

jrc · 07-28-2006, 12:17 AM

I'll grant you that this a gray area and it's a matter of degrees and point of view. Obviously anything can be carried to excess. I've seen that sand bar and Braun bay much more crowded than that day and much more rowdy. Maybe a periodic crackdown is a way of nipping trouble in the bud, but I felt that day was overkill.

Sandbars are fun places, so it makes sense that people will congregate and park (anchor) there. People boat on the lake so they can enjoy the lake. To some that means swimming and wading in shallow water with a sandy bottom.

You really have to be creative to find a situation were a person can get hurt just by violating the prohibition on anchoring 150' from shore, but it is a rule so it should be enforced.

I'm not saying the MP shouldn't patrol and maintain the peace. I'm also not saying that they should ignore scofflaws, just that the response should be proportionate to the crime.

How about this, a single MP boat comes through and tells people that they are violating the rules and they have to move. He continues on his patrol and returns later. Anyone still in violation gets a ticket. Do this randomly for a few busy days, then stop giving warnings. The problem is solved, the people will police themselves.

bobio · 07-31-2006, 09:47 PM

Can anyone tell me how the money from tickets is used. Does it go into the MP budget? I realize that the MP can sometimes be a real pain in the neck, but I want to thank them for the help they gave me this past Sunday in locating my pwc.

Kamper · 08-02-2006, 06:35 PM

RE: Fines

It's probably the same as fines for all other offenses. That money goes into the general fund. The legislature then makes appropriations from the general fund to pay for running the state.

SBC · 08-03-2006, 09:00 AM

Kamper is correct.

Airwaves · 08-06-2006, 01:14 AM

So boating fines are placed into the general fund, and according to Director Barrett the Marine Patrol doesn't get ANY money from the general fund!

So those violating boating laws and subjected to fines are NOT helping to support law enforcement on the water.

As the signs along the highways say:
That's the New Hampshire Way!

07-27-2006, 11:09 PM	#3
John A. Birdsall Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 599 Thanks: 27 Thanked 51 Times in 35 Posts	sandbar JRC, I have seen the conjestion, and problems caused at the sandbar in question, and I think the land owners need to have some respect. Not all out their are causing a problem, but a parking lot on the lake is sort of dumb. Someone has to get hurt before anyone does anything? I think the marine patrol deserve a hand on the back for doing the job, to protect and serve.

08-02-2006, 06:35 PM	#6
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,314 Thanks: 67 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts	Where do the fines go? RE: Fines It's probably the same as fines for all other offenses. That money goes into the general fund. The legislature then makes appropriations from the general fund to pay for running the state.

08-03-2006, 09:00 AM	#7
SBC Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: NH fresh waters and forests Posts: 72 Thanks: 12 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Where do the fines go? Kamper is correct.

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07-25-2006, 11:02 PM	#2
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	Airwaves, do you work in DC Boater's get a refund on gasoline taxes, because that tax is a road tax. You want to add an MP tax on gasoline and pretend you didn't because it's happens to be the same rate as the road tax. If you set the rate a little lower than the road tax, you could claim that it was a tax cut. In general, I like the feel of the lake as DaveR puts it. Weekends in the area between the Weirs channel and Eagle Island can be crazy. And I'm sure there are other intermitent hot spots. But the bulk of the lake is a paradise. I could boat on the cape, Boston harbor, Glouster, Moosehead, Sebago, Squam or even Champlain. I chose Winnipesaukee because it has everything. The only issue I had with the MP was their show of force at the sandbar. The MP should patrol the lake. If they see infractions or just un-safe activities, they should address them. They should give advice, warnings or tickets using their best judgement or some reasonable guidelines. Tying up 10 officers for hours to give out parking tickets (no rafting) on a busy afternoon seemed misguided. Now I guess if we had a huge amount of MP officers, they could patrol every nook and cranny, still have enough staff to blanket the sandbar. I don't think we need that.

07-28-2006, 12:17 AM	#4
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	I'll grant you that this a gray area and it's a matter of degrees and point of view. Obviously anything can be carried to excess. I've seen that sand bar and Braun bay much more crowded than that day and much more rowdy. Maybe a periodic crackdown is a way of nipping trouble in the bud, but I felt that day was overkill. Sandbars are fun places, so it makes sense that people will congregate and park (anchor) there. People boat on the lake so they can enjoy the lake. To some that means swimming and wading in shallow water with a sandy bottom. You really have to be creative to find a situation were a person can get hurt just by violating the prohibition on anchoring 150' from shore, but it is a rule so it should be enforced. I'm not saying the MP shouldn't patrol and maintain the peace. I'm also not saying that they should ignore scofflaws, just that the response should be proportionate to the crime. How about this, a single MP boat comes through and tells people that they are violating the rules and they have to move. He continues on his patrol and returns later. Anyone still in violation gets a ticket. Do this randomly for a few busy days, then stop giving warnings. The problem is solved, the people will police themselves.

07-31-2006, 09:47 PM	#5
bobio Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South Shore, Ma./ South Down Shores, N.H. Posts: 60 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Can anyone tell me how the money from tickets is used. Does it go into the MP budget? I realize that the MP can sometimes be a real pain in the neck, but I want to thank them for the help they gave me this past Sunday in locating my pwc.

08-06-2006, 01:14 AM	#8
Airwaves Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: I'm right here! Posts: 1,153 Thanks: 9 Thanked 102 Times in 37 Posts	So boating fines are placed into the general fund, and according to Director Barrett the Marine Patrol doesn't get ANY money from the general fund! So those violating boating laws and subjected to fines are NOT helping to support law enforcement on the water. As the signs along the highways say: That's the New Hampshire Way!