Originally Posted - July 22, 2006

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CLIFTON PARK---Rep. John E. Sweeney (R-NY) has unveiled HR 5274, the Boating Safety Tax Incentive Act, designed to boost boat safety in response to the deaths of 20 people aboard the Ethan Allen last October.

The legislation allows boat manufacturers for recreational and small passenger vessels to make a tax deduction for the inclusion of personal floatation devices and emergency position indicating radio beacons. The tax deduction would encourage boat manufacturers to include the most updated safety equipment in new boats and would also provide incentives for boaters to use them.

"There are 520,000 recreational boats in New York State, with 12,000 of them right here on Lake George. My legislation will ensure that all these boaters will be able to continue enjoying the Lake, with increased safety," said Sweeney.

The Ethan Allen capsized on Lake George on Oct. carrying a total of 48 passengers causing the drowning of 20 passengers, many of whom were elderly and in wheel chairs. With the most up-to-date personal flotation devices, this could potentially prevent future tragedies such as this from occurring.

Highlights of the bill include:

HR 5274 enables boat manufacturers to deduct either:

The fair market value of personal flotation devices (PFDs) and emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) or twice the cost of PFDs and EPIRBs

Boat manufacturers are able to deduct whichever is less in value. The second option allows manufacturers to take a deduction when purchasing these items in bulk, without getting penalized.

This encourages state-of-the-art safety equipment to be provided in new boats, without passing the cost of this equipment on to the consumer.

This legislation would provide manufacturers of recreational and small commercial boats an incentive to supply new boats with the most up-to-date PFDs, which the purchasers might not otherwise obtain.

In 2004 676 people died because of recreational boating deaths, 90% of which were not wearing life jackets at the time. The Coast Guard has estimated 431 lives would have been saved had they worn PFD's. 18 people in New York State died in recreational boat accidents in 2004. 7-22-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette