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Well everyone is probably asking what is next on the Boat Towing issue??
After the meeting Monday night I left felling frustrated, more confused than before, but felt like our voices are being heard. I feel good about what I heard from the Legislators that I talked to but was disappointed that they would not talk about the two bills that were going to be introduced May 13th. We were told that a copy of these bills will be available around May 9th and a copy will be sent to us to post.
What is next??? First of all we need to forget about the NCHP and focus on the Legislators of North Carolina and push hard to achieve these goals.
1. Towing on Sundays.
2. Towing on Holidays.
3. Relief for towing at night.
May 13th will be a big day because the short session will be beginning and we have to keep the pressure on to get results. We need to really stress things that will hurt the bottom line for the State. Even though this hurts boaters and fisherman it will hurt the revenue of North Carolina even more. It seems that revenue loss is really what will make our legislators listen. All the legislators at the meeting Monday were concerned with this. Hitting North Carolina's wallet will make them listen.
Everyone needs to take the time and make a personal phone call to there Legislators and hammer the above home. We all need to also send a personal e-mail to our legislators. If you don't get a response back write another to ask why you have not received a response to your questions and concerns. We need to engage our legislators and get them to think and act upon this issue.
We have their attention on the boat towing issue and we need to burn our concerns into their memory. Please take the time to personally engage you legislators they will listen if we are persistent. If you send a e-mail, do not send your e-mails to the general mailbox!!
To insure they receive your e-mails send it to their personal Mailbox.
As many as it takes. If you dont like it dont read it.
Seems that this is happening on a couple boards. A newcomer is on trying to discourage everyone. And always I have been lurking and just joined. Go back to driving your Gore mobile.
Tony, if you don't care about reading these threads, then why do you? I for one hope that half of the legislators email inbox is devoted to trailering issues. You're the asshole because out of the "4" threads you're saying are too much, you clicked on every one of them to complain. How crazy is that? Thx in large part to Offshore, 4/0, fishnncblue, headhunt, and others, we actually ARE making progress with the legislators. I as of right now, have a legal 102 " wide boat. NCSHP can't touch me on that. However, I might want a bigger boat one day. This whole thing with enforcement that has us writing 3,4,5, and even 6 threads is because a number of us see this for what it is, a revenue getter. You've been a member for a whole 2 weeks. There's plenty of reading you can do elsewhere on THT if you don't want to read another trailer thread.
Tony, your new here, welcome. Try to understand that us "Carolina Boys" take our fishing and related issues to heart.
This deal stinks as does the ORV issue with our barrier islands. Many posters here have worked hard to bring the issues to light, doing so on there own time and $$. So take your own advice and don't post if the subject puts your thong in a twist..........
Hey Vett-better rake them guides off. But what would really swim me off if I were you-going to the ramp at 5 in the morning with everything completely legal, get pulled for an hour or two while they check everything they can check. Putting you at the ramp when all of the other law abiders arrive after sunrise. Just wait till that starts happening. And it will at some point. That would really swim me. And they see your rig with twins-you can rest assure that they will be convinced its too wide and measure from every point. By the way-McKees have a slim rub rail but have you actually measured yourself. Some guys are saying that puts them over. Hope you are OK because I know you bought this boat because of the width. Good riding hull.
Hey Vett-better rake them guides off. But what would really swim me off if I were you-going to the ramp at 5 in the morning with everything completely legal, get pulled for an hour or two while they check everything they can check. Putting you at the ramp when all of the other law abiders arrive after sunrise. Just wait till that starts happening. And it will at some point. That would really swim me. And they see your rig with twins-you can rest assure that they will be convinced its too wide and measure from every point. By the way-McKees have a slim rub rail but have you actually measured yourself. Some guys are saying that puts them over. Hope you are OK because I know you bought this boat because of the width. Good riding hull.
It's one of the many reasons I bought this boat. All the xtra it already had, the rep of Mckee, thr ride, etc, etc. Those guides came of 2 weeks ago. I had to take her down to wilmington for some work, and before I did, off they came. I have measured the trailer, and it's exactly 8'6" from fender to fender. No, I haven't actually measured the boat itself, but the "shoulders" of the boat, where the beam is widest and is supposed to be 8'6" is also right where the console is. So, if MR. SHP wants to measure me, I will have a owners manual showing the width of the boat, and I should be okay of they decise to measure anywhere the console isn't. I'll tell you what though, it will chap my hide if they do an inspection for 2 hrs. I don't mind 20-30 minutes but enough is enough at that point. And I will probally get pulled over at some point because it is a VERY big 24 and with twins, I fully expect to get pulled at some point.
Towing mine for about 200 miles today. Trailer guides still on but tied tightly at the top. My measurement puts them at 101". Towing with a Tahoe so weighted tags are not an issue. We'll see how the day goes.
BTW - who is this Tony guy and does he get off by trying to stir the pot????? He sure is making friends early on!!!
__________________
2005 McKee 23 TE/FS with 200 Zukes
50 Ton Masters with Towing Endorsement.
Again, my hats off to all of you guys who started bringing the issue to light. Sorry, I chimed in a little late, but I have been active with trying to educate the boaters AND area legislators as to the situation since I first read the threads. Keep up the good work.
I still don't understand how it's ok to tow a boat with a Tahoe without weighted tags, but I can't tow the same boat with my new Tundra unless I spit out more money. Ok, I'm a slow learner...but, the DMV licensing ladies were not able to explain the "logic" for that. Perhaps one of you has had more luck.
Raeford Brown
Wilmington
25 Hyrdasport
I feel like this is making progress, but I have some questions:
1. Did Stiller address the letter from the DMV Commissioner that determined boat trailers are recreational, not commercial? The Statutes appear to grant the Commissioner the authority to make that call.
2. Is Stiller's HP bandits ticketing RV's and travel trailers that have attached awnings, since the bill that grants the 6" tolerance for those has not been passed and signed into law?
3. Any lawyers on here? Under what legal theory must I allow the HP to touch my recreational boat in order to measure its width? How can they do that? There is no probable cause. What if I refuse?
The letters to legislators are great, but I suggest we expand that to the Governor. Ask him to execute an executive order banning any HP funds from being used to enforce overweight and overwidth statutes against boat trailers until the legislature has had an opportunity to address this issue.
I want to apologize to the NC forum for the post above but I have no tolerance for someone that is trying to undo all the work everyone here has done. This person does not live in NC and has no clue to what has been going on. Everyone has to realize that we are not trying to change Federal laws. We are trying to use the NC laws that are on the books or create new ones that will give relief to towed boats in NC. If you haven’t read the threads before this one please do so to understand what is going on in NC. I for one will keep plugging away on this. We might not get everything we want but we have to try. I have never been one to sit back and go along with the flow if it affects me or my rights. We all have a lot of money tied up in what we do. We spend a lot of money in this state and we should be able to use our boats and trailer them when we need too. That is where I stand at this point
itwonder
That letter was circulating at the meeting Monday night so I am sure he saw it. The HP is just enforcing the laws that are on the books. When the laws change they will change. I did hear someone at the meeting talking to one of the legislators asking about a moratorium on these tickets but I don’t think this will happen….Mark
Again, my hats off to all of you guys who started bringing the issue to light. Sorry, I chimed in a little late, but I have been active with trying to educate the boaters AND area legislators as to the situation since I first read the threads. Keep up the good work.
I still don't understand how it's ok to tow a boat with a Tahoe without weighted tags, but I can't tow the same boat with my new Tundra unless I spit out more money. Ok, I'm a slow learner...but, the DMV licensing ladies were not able to explain the "logic" for that. Perhaps one of you has had more luck.
Raeford Brown
Wilmington
25 Hyrdasport
Raeford,
By definition in § 20-4.01, the Tahoe is a passenger vehicle and the Tundra is a property hauling vehicle. Different classes, different rules.
I want to apologize to the NC forum for the post above but I have no tolerance for someone that is trying to undo all the work everyone here has done. This person does not live in NC and has no clue to what has been going on. Everyone has to realize that we are not trying to change Federal laws. We are trying to use the NC laws that are on the books or create new ones that will give relief to towed boats in NC. If you haven’t read the threads before this one please do so to understand what is going on in NC. I for one will keep plugging away on this. We might not get everything we want but we have to try. I have never been one to sit back and go along with the flow if it affects me or my rights. We all have a lot of money tied up in what we do. We spend a lot of money in this state and we should be able to use our boats and trailer them when we need too. That is where I stand at this point
itwonder
That letter was circulating at the meeting Monday night so I am sure he saw it. The HP is just enforcing the laws that are on the books. When the laws change they will change. I did hear someone at the meeting talking to one of the legislators asking about a moratorium on these tickets but I don’t think this will happen….Mark
On that note.....I namecalled too, and also apologize to the NC forum for having done so.
Gentlemen, no apology is necessary......I came very close to flaming back myself. Thanks to the IB folks for cleaning up the mess in a prompt and efficient manner.
Now, the important thing is that we all MUST CONTACT OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS - NOW - BY EMAIL, TELEPHONE, FAX, AND US MAIL! Tell your fellow boaters, friends, neighbors, family members to do the same! The Representatives and Senators who were at the meeting on Monday night emphasized this and gave out their phone numbers! They are VERY receptive to making some changes. Emphasize the potential loss of revenue from boaters and fishermen; that gets attention more than anything else.
itwonder
That letter was circulating at the meeting Monday night so I am sure he saw it. The HP is just enforcing the laws that are on the books. When the laws change they will change. I did hear someone at the meeting talking to one of the legislators asking about a moratorium on these tickets but I don’t think this will happen….Mark
Mark,
Sure did feel good to see those letters on the HP table though, didn't it.
Butch
Gentlemen, no apology is necessary......I came very close to flaming back myself. Thanks to the IB folks for cleaning up the mess in a prompt and efficient manner.
Now, the important thing is that we all MUST CONTACT OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS - NOW - BY EMAIL, TELEPHONE, FAX, AND US MAIL! Tell your fellow boaters, friends, neighbors, family members to do the same! The Representatives and Senators who were at the meeting on Monday night emphasized this and gave out their phone numbers! They are VERY receptive to making some changes. Emphasize the potential loss of revenue from boaters and fishermen; that gets attention more than anything else.
Seeing as how my posts were removed from this thread but I'm still a topic of conversation, maybe this will help you guys. If you're just trying to get some relief on the week-end towing deal, you can use Florida as an example. No state allows pulling overwidth loads at night. Like I said in a post on here that was removed, you can legally pull a boat up to a 10' beam in that state, but you still have to buy a permit as that is a federal requirement no state can do anything about on their own. 102" is the federal limit, period, where overwidth is concerned.
This link will show you all state requirements in addition to federal where overwidth is concerned. Click on FL and you'll see what I'm talking about where they allow week-end towing. Apologies accepted, except for ^^^^ of course.
*** TOWING ISSUE Whats Next*** 
Seems that this is happening on a couple boards. A newcomer is on trying to discourage everyone. And always I have been lurking and just joined. Go back to driving your Gore mobile. 
