Re: [Paddlewise] Licensing [was Crab Pots Rescued]/Licensing

From: <dmccarty_at_us.ibm.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 22:04:50 -0400
Hmmmm...

If licensing is such a good idea.  How well has it worked with autos?  How
many bad drivers does one see everyday driving to work?  How many citable
offences?  How many driver are using their safety equipment, aka, The Seat
Belt?  Start looking at drivers around you when you are driving.  How many
are wearing a seat belt?

The revocation of a license has very little affect on "bad" drivers.
Revocation is most likely caused by DUI/DWI and Careless/Reckless
situations.  DUI revocation is a notable failure in North Carolina.  So
much so that the law now requires that the in certain situations, the auto
used in a DUI offence must be seized and sold for the good of the local
school system.  NC has also successfully prosecuted and convicted DUI
drivers on second degree homicide charges.  That will keep the habitual
drunks off the road buy unfortunately that requires that an innocent person
dies first.

This year I can think of only one person maybe two who have died in
paddling accidents in North Carolina.  So far this year I can think of one
or two swimmers who drowned early in the spring  because of cold water.  We
had two people who drowned in the last few months.  The news reported today
that SIX people, yes SIX, drowned at the beaches in NC this past week.
SIX.  Not really on topic but we also had three people bit by sharks this
last week as well.

Should we license swimmers?  Sharks?  8-)  Sorry could not resist that last
one?  I want to see the that "traffic stop" on COPS!  8-)

The run ins I have had with power boaters would not have been prevented by
licensing.   I have seen hundreds of stupid/dumb acts performed by power
boaters.  Licensing would not have prevented any one of the incidents.

We can't prevent stupidity or license it away.  And the fact is we all do
stupid things from time to time.

Hmmm, well maybe not my wife.  My father in law says she is "Perfectly
perfect in every way."  But then he is biased?

Later...
Dan "My Real Name" McCarty

8-)  Or maybe it is Jed, Lead, or Oil......  8-)




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Received on Sat Jul 22 2000 - 19:12:19 PDT

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