By State Senator Cathy Cook

In these weeks following the close of the 2005 Legislative Session, I will be writing about some of what the legislature accomplished and what we did not this year. This week, we take a look at some new boating and environment laws. Southeastern Connecticut is blessed with an abundance of waterways and those of us who truly enjoy boating, along with the many other activities available in our part of the state, should welcome some new much-needed public safety measures.

For example, the General Assembly passed HB 6760, An Act Concerning Boating Safety , which establishes criminal penalties for certain types of unsafe boating practices. Among other things, this law, effective October 1 st , increases fines and adds prison time for operating a vessel when the operator's safe boating certificate or certificate of personal watercraft operation has been refused, suspended, or revoked. Certificates can be for revoked or suspended for violations such as operating a vessel under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or second or third degree reckless operation while under the influence. This law also requires that a revoked or suspended certificate be turned into the DEP within two days of the suspension or revocation. In addition, it makes refusal to stop for an officer a misdemeanor for the first offense with escalating penalties for future offenses.

HB 5615, An Act Concerning Motorboat Noise Sound Level Tests , increases the fine for failing to submit your motorboat to an on-site noise test from a minimum of $100 to $350 for a first offense, and a minimum of $450 for each subsequent offense. This new law takes effect July 1 st . Current law sets the fine for exceeding the permitted noise level at $220. If the motorboat exceeds the permitted noise level, the officer may direct the operator to take immediate and reasonable measures to correct the violation, including returning the motorboat to a mooring and keeping the motorboat at the mooring until the violation is corrected or ceases.

Continuing our efforts to protect and preserve Long Island Sound, we passed SB 637, An Act Concerning A Bi-State Long Island Sound Committee, which calls for replacing the Connecticut-New York Bi-State Long Island Sound Marine Resources Committee with the Bi-State Long Island Sound Committee as soon as New York enacts similar legislation.

The new committee will be charged with recommending legislation to avoid, minimize and mitigate the impact of the proposed industrialization and private use of the Sound's public trust resources. Public trust resources are defined as the historic and broad public boating use of the Sound; the public's right to enjoy and explore the Sound's natural beauty by boat; the right of public and commercial fishermen to harvest fish and shellfish from the Sound; the protection of the Sound's natural resources held in trust by the state for the public; the stewardship and restoration of sites along the coastline that contain important habitat and natural resources; and the protection of sites that provide opportunities for public enjoyment of the Sound.

There are some disappointments to report about this legislative session. I am especially disappointed that we did not pass legislation to increase the number of state Department of Environmental Protection conservation officers to 75. As of earlier this year, DEP had 50 conservation officers. I will continue to work for this legislation in the future.