The Kentucky Senate has approved legislation that would help reduce water patrol harassment in the state.
The senate committee heard testimony from a marina operator about a growing wave of boater complaints about overzealous officers.
The bill approved by the full Senate on Thursday (Feb. 20) requires officers to have reasonable and articulable suspicion of a violation before boarding a boat.
Sen. Chris Girdler (Somerset) is the bill sponsor.
“With an industry as large as boating tourism is in Kentucky, we cannot simply sit idly by and allow this harassment to run our visitors out of state and on to more friendly waterways where other states will welcome them.” –Chris Girdler
Girdler says the tourism impact of Lake Cumberland on the region is significant. He likened it to the Toyota plant in central Kentucky. The bill now heads to the House.
