To The Editor:
I am responding to a comment from a boater in Stone Harbor where he was stopped by the Coast Guard and issued a fine of $400 for not having his children in life vests. He felt that he was being harassed by the patrol. Hardly the case.
If this person had taken a Safe Boating Course offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, he would have known that it is the law to have children 12 years of age and under, wearing a vest while on a boat. He stated that the vests were on the boat and that everything else was in order, but the patrol still gave him a hard time.
Everything was not in order–the children were not wearing their vests. If anything, the patrol did this fellow a favor by doing a boarding and fining him, because now he won’t forget to keep the vests where they belong–on his children.
I would bet that his boat did not have a current Vessel Exam as well. This too, is offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and it is free. Our Coast Guard is the best on the planet and they are here to help people, not harass them. Any boater wanting to take the safe boating course or have a vessel exam can go to the web sites at Flotilla 82 Cape May, Flotilla 83 Wildwood or Flotilla 86 Lower Township.
PAUL WILL
North Cape May
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
