Recent news regarding boat speed limits: January 2, 2011

"A group of boaters in New Hampshire came together within the last year to help improve the waterways on Lake Winnipesaukee and in the process established a name for themselves.

Safe Boaters of New Hampshire began in 2009 when a group of people met online at an Internet forum to discuss lake and boating issues in the state. The group later met at the house of Scott Verdonck, founder of the group, to discuss specifically ending the two-year study period for speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Group members were outraged that the speed limit law was adopted before any data or evidence from the study could be examined. Verdonck said the group did not take a stance as being for or against the speed limits and still takes no stance today.

'We hoped that the two-year study would show that speed wasn't a problem on the lake,' said Verdonck. 'We were upset that they were ending the two-year study prematurely.'

The group had attempted to file legislation that would extend the speed limit study by another year. Its efforts were unsuccessful, however. Verdonck said that, despite the bill not passing, the group gained recognition and support through the experience."

Read more at the Citizen of Laconia.