Speed limit backers show support

"Supporters of the current boat speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee released a poll yesterday showing strong support for the limits among Lakes Region residents.

The poll, paid for by the Winnipesaukee Family Alliance for Boating Safety and conducted by the Colorado-based Magellan Data and Mapping Strategies, shows 72 percent of the 775 residents polled across eight Lakes Region towns support the current limits, which cap speeds at 45 mph during the day and 30 mph at night.

According to the poll, 69 percent of respondents also oppose increasing the daytime limit to 55 mph in the 'broads,' a term describing a wide, central section of the lake. Such a proposal, backed by an anti-speed limit group, recently passed out of the Senate on a 13-11 vote and is awaiting a vote in the House.

The poll was rolled out yesterday inside the Legislative Office Building across from the State House. Jeff Thurston, president of Thurston's Marina on Weirs Beach, spoke for the group, describing the poll as showing 'broad opposition to any increase in the boat speed limits on Winnipesaukee across all resident demographics, including gender, age and political party affiliation.'"

Read more at the Concord Monitor.