Bogus Boat Ban Update
March 2006
News
The Alabama House is set to vote this week on a bill that would ban from three prime recreational reservoirs boats that are longer than 26'11" and capable of exceeding 60 mph; all boats longer than 30'6"; and all boats powered by greater than 500 hp. While the bill passed through House and Senate committees without public hearings, a grassroots campaign coordinated by NMMA drew weeks of media coverage, opposition from editorial writers, and concern among marine-related businesses. H.B. 756, backed by Alabama Power, was introduced at the request of a Georgia-based development company interested in building a subdivision along Smith Lake. NMMA continues to work to defeat legislative proposals of this nature that would limit access to public waterways in Alabama.