lake speed limits bill debated at committee level

The House Resources, Recreation and Development last week held the first of two scheduled work sessions on legislation to impose speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee.

"The discussion was all over the place," said Representative Richard Cooney (R-Salem), a veteran of the committee. "But, the committee feels something should be done."

Jim Bianco, a Concord lobbyist who represents the New Hampshire Marine Trades Association, which opposes the bill, echoed Cooney. "There is a consensus to do something," he said. "The question is what is something."

The bill — House Bill 162, sponsored by Representative Jim Pilliod (R-Belmont) — would simply set a daytime speed limit of 45 miles per hour and a nighttime speed limit of 25 miles per hour on Lake Winnipesaukee. However, at three public meetings held around the lake this summer — at Wolfeboro, Moultonborough and Gilford — the committee was treated to a variety of suggestions.

"It could be anything at this point," said Jared Teutsch, executive director of the New Hampshire Lakes Association, many of whose members favor a statewide speed limit that would apply to all lakes and ponds. Teutsch said the committee discussed setting specific speed limits as well as applying a "reasonable and prudent standard." Some suggested speed limits should apply to all lakes, others to only the large lakes — Winnipesaukee, Newfound, Winnisquam, Sunapee and Ossipee. Some favored enforcing speed limits every day, others only on weekends. There was talk of a pilot program and a sunset provision.

"Twenty people have a lot of ideas," said Cooney. "We have a handle on the issue, but not on the solution." Bianco agreed. "It's a complex issue," he said, indicating that speed was only one aspect of the concerns raised by increasing boat traffic on the lakes. "It's not as simple as putting on a speed limit and going home," he continued. "It's a combination of things and that gives the committee a lot of options."

Sandra Helve of Bear Island in Meredith is a driving force behind the Winnipesaukee Family Alliance for Boating Safety (WinnFABS), which was formed in May to marshal popular support for the bill. "I was encouraged by the first session," she said. "There is a sense on the committee of wanting to do something. The understand that this is an issue that needs to be addressed." Helve also found that discussion ranged over a wide range of options, but insisted WinnFABS was focused strictly on setting speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee seven days a week.

Curiously, apart from Representative David Russell (R-Gilmanton), there is not a single member of the committee from a district in the Lakes Region, although several members are said to vacation on the lakes and others are recreational boaters.

The committee has a second work session scheduled for October 11 and is required to issue its report by December 1.