Alabama Speed Limit?

     Today I read a column on BassFan that had noted a proposed regulation in the state of Alabama that wants to invoke a no wake, idle only speed limit within 100 miles of any boat, dock, pier, or shoreline. Are you serious? I can see something like this happening somewhere in the northeast, but Alabama! The same Alabama that is arguably the capital of bass fishing.

     Michael Bolton of the Birmingham News is the one who informed BassFan of the proposal. Bolton also made mention that the proposal stemmed from one individual who didn’t like waves hitting against his pier. Bolton went on to say something that I completely agree with and something I would have used as a rebuttal myself, “If you don’t like the sound of 18 wheelers driving by, don’t build your house on the interstate and then try to get a 4 mile per hour speed limit for trucks”. That is a great point.

     You know what is funny about all of the issues that are facing us as bass boaters is that most of them have nothing to do with bass boats. The issue with the ballast control where the EPA is wanting to invoke further licensing and fees for any “vessel” with a bilge pump is a result of cargo liners and pleasure cruisers. Not bass boats. The spread of zebra mussels was not a result of bass boats. Have they been affected, sure, but bass boats did not start the problem. Now this person in Alabama. Bass boats put off less wake than any other boat in the water. The majority of the big rolling swells and waves put off in the lakes are caused by people who have boats and small yachts designed for inter-coastal travel on small reservoirs. Then they drive them around at bogged down speeds rather than on plane. Jet skiers love them but they’re about the only ones.

     Passing a proposal like this would hinder not just bass fisherman in the state of Alabama but pleasure boaters of all types, ski boats, and wave runners as well. Somebody build this person a bubble would ya. Hopefully the residents of Alabama don’t end up like the folks in New Hampshire with an on the water speed limit.