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WASHINGTON BOATERS SHOULD JOIN RBAW
By Robert Hale
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May 19, 2003. For several years now I have been a member of the Recreational Boating Association of Washington (RBAW), and the more I learn about RBAW and what it does the more important that membership becomes. Please take a moment to read this item. If you agree with me and you're not yet a member, I'd like you to invest the $15 annual dues to become a member yourself.
RBAW is the lobbying organization representing the interests of Washington State boaters. It works year-round, and especially when the state legislature is in session, keeping bad laws and regulations from being enacted and promoting good laws and regulations. Here are some examples of bad law: An Eastern Washington county sheriff proposed a bill that would allow tests for alcohol or drug influence for two hours after a person had left his boat. If the test showed as little as 0.02 for alcohol, for instance, the person would automatically be guilty of Boating Under Influence (BUI) -- unless he could prove, with witnesses, that the alcohol or drugs had been consumed after the vessel had been left.
RBAW met with the Judicial Committee chairman, who agreed the proposal probably was unconstitutional, and the proposal died.
Recently, Washington State Parks distributed a radical fee increase proposal for marine parks, with less than two weeks time for comment. RBAW responded with a carefully prepared objection. Given the short time for comment, it probably was one of the few comments submitted.
The state legislature, in its unending search for revenue, often targets recreational boats for license fee increases. Boaters already pay an annual one-half of one percent excise tax on the value of their boats. Proposals to double that tax have been defeated by RBAW.
On the good law side, it's probably inevitable that Washington will have some kind of boater licensing requirements.RBAW is working with state government to make the requirement apply to boater education, not licensing. I personally believe that boater licensing will not improve safety, but education can. Regardless of what comes, I want it written by our friends, who understand boating, rather than administrators who do not understand boating.
RBAW is working on the control of what are called Invasive Species in Washington's waters. These include Spartina, Milfoil, Zebra Mussels and Mitten Crabs. What is needed is more funding for inspections, and more training for inspectors. The cost of keeping invasive species is next to nothing, compared with the cost of dealing with them once they are introduced.
There are about 250,000 registered boats in the state. Yet RBAW has only about 1000 individual members. It's a case of the dedicated few doing a heck a good job on behalf of the many. RBAW has only one paid employee -- the lobbiest in Olympia. Everyone else is a volunteer.
Membership is only $15 a year. It's one of the best boating investments we can make. The address is:
Recreational Boating Association of Washington
P.O. Box 23601
Federal Way, WA 98093-0601
Check their web site, www.rbaw.org, too. You can join online. Do it now.v
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