Re: [Paddlewise] Licensing

"Sailboat Restorations, Inc." wrote:
> 
> Steve Cramer wrote (in response to my suggestion that rental outfitters
> might be qualified to test and issue licenses for the types of boats they
> rent):
> 
> >If you certify me as
> > competent, take my $$ and rent me a boat, and I drown, who's responsible
> > for my death? For the benefit of our international correspondents, I'll
> > answer the question: you are, unless your lawyer is better than mine.
> 
> Not necessarily.  In fact, I'd say not as a general rule.  And certainly not
> if the legislation that created the licensing framework said not.  This is
> not a new kind of concept to the law, and protection from liability is built
> into all kinds of legislative initiatives.
> 
> I would not suggest that every corner store that rents a couple of canoes or
> kayaks be empowered to test and issue licenses.  There should be a
> governmental agency responsible for doing so (same people perhaps who issue
> fishing or hunting licenses, or perhaps the DMV).  But I do think that
> larger or more sophisticated rental outfitters might be qualified to do so,

With the additional complications (ain't the law wonderful), I begin to
understand you better, and some of my quibbles go away. Of course, you
have posited a new governmental agency (in GA, hunting and fishing
licenses are physically issued by K-Mart, and there's no exam), which
will add to the size of bloated guvmint, yadayadayada.

Perhaps I missed this earlier in the thread, but would this licensing
apply to us, or just renters? I can imagine the BC authorities reading
one of Doug's reports and recoiling in horror: "Give him a license?!
Hell, no, the fool is suicidal!"

Of course all these requirements would apply to bicyclists,
skateboarders, 'bladers, perambulator pushers, etc, too, no?

Steve
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