Drink driving - definitely boaty

Cornishman

Cornishman

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Did anyone hear the final item in BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning? Drink driving law for professional seamen comes into force today and the man from the MCA hinted that a similar national law for recreational boaters will be "activated" (his word, not mine) before the 2005 season.
To hear the discussion with him and Neil Northmore, one of the RYA legal team, go to the BBCi home page, select T and then Today from the alphabetical list. You will need Real One to hear it.

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There was an article in the Sunday Times:

"The change is linked to the introduction of a new alcohol limit for professional seamen, such as skippers of fishing boats and dredgers, which comes into force on Tuesday.

The same alcohol limit — identical to that enforced on the roads — is eventually intended to cover “recreational mariners’’. However, David Jamieson, the shipping minister, will begin a consultation exercise this week to decide whether certain types of private craft, such as rowing boats, should be exempt. "

There's more on http://www.timesonline.co.uk but you have to dig a little.
I guess David Jamieson is the one we should keep a beery eye on!


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tried listening but got this message

rtsp://rmv8.bbc.net.uk/radio4/live/today5_20040329.ra?start="00:25:17.6"&end="00:28:50.2"

errror currpt file or wrond address!!

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I heard the item and after reading the Times article the previous day am more convinced than ever this is a case of creating a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
Neil Northmoor from the RYA rightly said where there are isolated incidents they are handled with local by-laws by harbourmasters and the "broad brush" of national legislation is over the top.
I was disappointed Northmoor did not challenge the MCA view that there is a growing number of drink related sailing incidents. In the UK even the majority PWC users tend not to go over the top, largely because they have to tow their horrible machines home with the car.
The proposed activation of the legislation will be a nightmare, even if they have someone to actually breath-test a drunken sailor. If the rules are applied to sailors in the same way as they are for motorists it will mean any skipper on board his vessel with more than 80mg in his/her blood will be committing an offence... whether the boat is drifting along at 1 knot, at anchor, tied up on a pontoon or on the hard in a cradle!



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... the thing that worried me the most was the suggestion that everyone on the boat might be subject to the blood alcohol level test.

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If you add on the red diesel issue, may not be so critital to yachts, what is it going to do to the powerboat side, and boating in general.

Brian

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Sholushun's obviush(hic)

Don't go into harbour - shtay at she until shober . . .

Seriously, I'm pretty sure the police in most areas have better things to do - it will be almost universally ignored, and only applied when there is an incident - much the same as already happens.


- Nick

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Exactly...Hopefully no one will take any notice.
The only time it should be inforced would be in the case of an accident, as is now.

I also heard the radio 4 prog today and the MCA spokesman said action should be activated in time for the 2005 boating season in the face of a GROWING PROBLEM?????? excuse me!! but what problem? & how can a nearly non existant recreational problem be growing???? AND why did'nt the RYA rep also ask the same questions? He was nearly apologetic for the RYA even existing.

I for one would like to see the figures for deaths & accidents at sea for recreational craft due to drunk driving.

Dont get me wrong I am certainly NOT advocating that drinking and driving at sea should be condoned, but taking this whole legislation to its logical conclusion, you could be fined, have your pride & joy confiscated, etc. etc. IF you are over the limit, siting tied up to a pontoon/swinging mooring after a days sailing/motorboating & some hairy plod comes along and asks you for a breath test...........

What worries me its another nail in the UK boating freedom that we all enjoy.


poter.

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One Loop-hole

How old do you have to be to be in charge of a boat? Didn't a 14 year old recently take a Contessa over the pond? If all the adults happen to have had, say 3 pints of bitter, cannot you claim you 14 year old is Skipper for the day and that they should be the one subject to the breathaliser? Obviously if there is an accident due to the effects of drink I would not want a competant skipper to try and duck responsibility, but if you just moor up on a pontoon and PC Plod turns up most people would duck and dive a bit wouldn't they? Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".
 
No I don't condone getting three sheets and then taking a boat out, but by the time the nanny government's finished with us there'll be no fun left, just regulations. And don't kid yourself that the police won't be around in some way or another to enforce it, look no further than motoring if you've any doubts. It seems to me these days that the police are under instruction to become self supporting, and having exhausted the mtorists pockets, I guess we could be next. Could be getting near time to hoist sail and head for civilisation if it can be found!

<hr width=100% size=1>I have nothing to declare, except my genius
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Re: GROWING PROBLEM

Ah but if two cases one year and three the next,
"We have a 50% increase, we must do something about this GROWING PROBLEM"

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If you have not got a problem, or a very small one, then any very small increase must be a growing problem. After all it cannot be a reducing one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brian

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Just a thought

I suppose that they'll have to introduce licencing, simply so that there's something to ban us from if we drink too much.

Joe

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Re: Just a thought

I think you've hit the nail on the head - in order to enforce the drink driving law you will of course need some form of 'driving license' and registration - A very convienient way of sneaking that in by the back door don't you think.

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Re: Drink driving - Drunken Killers!

So you can drink and go hunting on your horse or with a shotgun but you can't take a rowboat on the Serpentine!

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