The N.C. Highway Patrol supports Governor Easley’s veto of HB 2167. This legislation, if it becomes law, would allow wider boat trailers on our highways both during the day and at night. The Highway Patrol’s concern with this legislation is that 9-foot wide boats traveling on our highways at night, when visibility is limited, will increase collisions. In addition, we asked the General Assembly to lower the blood alcohol limit for drivers to .04 which is consistent with the standard for commercial motor vehicles. As with commercial vehicles, transporting these wider boats takes increased concentration and skill. I was disappointed that the General Assembly rejected the proposal to reduce the blood alcohol content for motorists towing wider boat trailers since it endangers lives. These issues represent safety concerns that we feel need to be addressed before we can support the proposed legislation.

Last year, troopers investigated 300 collisions involving motorists transporting boats. During 2007, troopers issued five over width violations to motorists transporting non-commercial boat trailers statewide. By comparison, troopers issued more than 900,000 citations for all violations during 2007. Clearly, troopers have not targeted boaters.

Troopers’ primary mission is to keep the roads as safe as possible and they do that by enforcing the state’s traffic laws and investigating traffic collisions. This legislation, as written, will jeopardize safety on our highways. Bryan E. Beatty, Secretary, N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety

Thanks for the views

I just want to thank the Town of Cary for investing in Bond Park. The Town of Cary workers have recently done a terrific job in adding a few new paved walking trails and improvements to the boat house. I take every opportunity I can to pedal over for the views. Thanks guys, it’s really appreciated!

Jim Larcom, Cary