I'm sure if I made ten improper transmissions on marine VHF radio let's
say on ch.16 I could guarantee I would get the $10,000 fine, and
imprisonment for two years!" this I can count on.
BUT big Telemarketers can break the FCC laws 2000 times a day and nothing
comes of it for them.
Who is big brother watching out for? I'd go for a simple multiple guess quiz
you must pass before Marine VHF Radio purchase. Self education just doesn't
seem to work.

thanks for allowing me to bilge vent!

Regards,
Ron




"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

Was in BoatUS the other day and picked up a free copy
of "Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recrecational
Boaters". Nearest I can tell the publishing date was 7/2001.

Anyway, two notes:


It says all vessels (even recreational vessels) that
have "propulsion machinery" (en engine) must have "a capacity
to retain oily mixtures on board and be equipped with a fixed
or portable means to discharge these. On recreational vessels,
a bucket, oil absorbant pads and heavy duty plastic bag, bailer
or portable pump are some suitable means that meet the
resuirement..." ~ I'd never known of this regulation before.
Guess I'll throw a large "contractor" bag with some oil
absorbant pads into some unused corner.

This makes perfect sense.


It says impropper use of the (VHF) radio "is punishable by
a $10,000 fine, imprisonment for two years or both." It says
about negligent operation such as having "bowriding" that
you "mayb be fined up to $5,000, imprisioned for one year
or both." But about Boating Under the Influence it says,
"...violators are subject to a civil penalty of $1,000, or a
criminal penalty not to exced $5,000, one year
inprisonment or both. ~ Hmmmm.....so swearing
over the radio is worse than being negligent or drunk ???

Anyway.

The "improper use" clause makes sense, but the relative fines are a bit
odd.
But, maybe they want to leave the major DWI penalties up to the local
authorities. If a township or county is too stupid to apply the same
penalties as automotive DWI offenses, they deserve what they get.