HB2670--SIGNAGEONPUBLICBOATRAMPS
SPONSOR: Thomas
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPassbyConsent"bytheStanding
CommitteeonCrimePreventionandPublicSafetybyavoteof24to
0.
Thisbillestablishes"Marie'sLaw",whichrequirestheDepartment
ofNaturalResourcestoplacesignageatcertainstate-ownedboat
rampsatLakeoftheOzarksStatePark.Thesignsmustread
"Marie'sMessage:StayAfloat,Don'tDrinkandBoat".
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisisastraightforward bill,
whichisalsoknownas“Marie’sLaw.”Itcameaboutasaresultof
adrunkboatingaccidentandthisisanattempttoeducatethe
publicaboutappropriateandrespectfulboating. Theboatingwhile
intoxicatedlawsinMissouriareoutdated,andtheyshouldprobably
bechangedtomirrorMissouri’sdrivingwhileintoxicatedstatutes.
TheLakeoftheOzarksisaprettydangerouslakeasitisbutit’s
exacerbatedbytheconsumptionofalcohol. Accidentsonthewater
happenfast,oftenfasterthancaraccidents. Consumptionof
alcoholcanloweraperson’sreactiontime,whichcanmakethe
differenceinchancesofsurvivingoravoidinganaccident. Most
peopledon’tunderstandallthefactorsthatgointospeedonthe
water.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Thomas;
JefferyM.Hoots;MarvinPhillips;DavidGray;andKevinHalderman.
OPPONENTS: Therewasnooppositionvoicedtothecommittee.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.