Poughkeepsie Regulates Personal Watercraft
The City of Poughkeepsie has become the first municipality on the tidal Hudson River to pass a local law regulating personal watercraft (PWC) under the Jet Ski Home Rule Bill.
In May the city established a vessel regulation zone within 300 feet of its two-mile waterfront. PWCs now are restricted to a 5-mph speed limit and may not leave a wake within the zone. Letters from Scenic Hudson, Inc. supporters helped encourage this action.
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DID YOU KNOW? Riding a typical 100 horsepower Jet Ski for two hours generates the same amount of air pollution (hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen and particulates) as driving a 1998 passenger car 100,000 miles.
(Source: California Air Resources Board) |
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Thanks to the Jet Ski Home Rule Bill, municipalities are beginning to use their authority to regulate operation of these craft. Scenic Hudson worked with the Resident's Committee to Protect the Adirondacks and other conservation groups to secure passage of this legislation last year. The law authorizes cities, towns and villages in the state to regulate - or even prohibit - PWC.
In the Adirondacks, the Town of Johnsburg has banned the craft from the Hudson River, Thirteenth Lake and Garnet Lake. In addition, the Town of North Elba and the Village of Lake Placid are taking steps to protect Lake Placid.
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| TIP: Municipalities interested in regulating PWC on the Hudson River or other waters should call (845) 473-4440, ext. 221. |
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| Letters to Scenic Hudson helped encourage the City of Poughkeepsie to regulate personal watercraft (PWC). |
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