The Maryland boat act advisory committee is trying to put in place a rule on no towing of any kind in a waterway less than 800 yards wide. This includes but not limited to, wakeboarding, waterskiing, tubing, towing of dinghys, towing of disabled watercraft, tugboats with barges.

Their have been studies done about how towing has no more effect on erosion than regular wake, but the committee will not abide by those, as they say they are outdated. The current rule is no boat may be within 100ft of any fixed object while towing. We all believe this is more than enough and increasing this rule would push watersports into the more dangerous channels. It also states you are repsonsible for your own wake which we all should be already.

4 years ago on the Severn River a wakeboarder died by getting run over in the channel due to the negligence of another boater not expecting anyone towing in the channel. If this person was in the back waterways this person would still be with us today.

I want everyone to sign this petition to show how we all stand against this misjustice together. We will not let them push the boating community around and make rulings without talking to the whole boating community. 

If the Cmte sends a recommendation to the Secretary of DNR, the Sec then sends it to the Boating Law Administrator who is the Sperintendent of the Nat Res Police.  It then goes to Atty Gen.'s office for review then to Joint Legislative Cmte on Admin., Exec., and Legis. Review.  After their approval it is sent to Div of Stat Documents for printing in the Maryland Register.  The DNR will also post legal notices in papers of general circulation & local circulation requesting comment by a date listed in the Notice of Proposed Regulations in the Maryland Register.
Here is the important part.........
There is a provision in Maryland Law that requires the Dept to conduct a public hearing if the Dept receives a petition signed by 50 individuals before the regulation takes effect.  In this case that would be the beginning of the boating season (whicjh I believe is determined to be Apr 15).
If this happens, the Dept will conduct a public meeting and take written and oral testimony from the public, review the record of the case, and submit their findings to the secretary for his decision. The Dept will either proceed with the regulation, modify the regulation (which means it will be re-proposed in the MD Register) or withdraw the regulation.

OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 5000 signatures if not more.

This boat act advisory committee MUST be shutdown and replaced with a NON-BIASED group with people who have interests in EVERY ASPECT of the boating and watersports community in mind. This will prevent rulings without the input of the whole boating community.

Thank you and safe boating, and please be responsible for your own wake,

Paul Planzer

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