David Morris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I'm not a boat owner but am frequently on the water skippering the > local Canal Trust trip boat. In my opinion, every boat should have to > display a valid licence, just like on a road vehicle (do agricultural > vehicles have to display one? I don't know). Even if your 'terms of > employment' are such that you get a licence as part of your job, > there's no reason why you should not have to display a valid licence. > There should be nothing on the licence which may stigmatise anyone, so > if it's being paid by the DSS or whomever, that needn't be shown. BW > boats should have to display a valid licence as well for exactly the > same reason. > > I've seen only this week, hung from a local roadside lamppost, a > number to ring if I see an un-taxed car. There's no reason why BW > couldn't do something similar (if they don't already, maybe not from a > lamp post...). My view is that every licence fee collected is a few > more bricks in a lock wall repair, and as system users, that's > something that is in all our interests. I fully understand that some > people just like to keep their heads down and get on with life. No-one > says you have to report unlicensed boats, but if there's a suitable, > easy-to-use framework in place, for those that are happy with > reporting these ne'er do wells, they can continue to do so as far as > I'm concerned. > > I'm now back to lurk mode.
There is a number on the back of the licence-holder for reporting unlicensed boats. For reasons I won't go into, (as my motives were less than spotless!) I did report a boat once. The licence on display was about seven months out of date, but it transpired that the licence had been renewed. The boat in question continued to display the same out-of-date licence in a well-patrolled area for several months after that, notwithstanding that the owner more or less lived on the boat and had ample opportunity to display the current licence. It seems to me that some boat owners do not like to conform to rules, which may be why they take to the water in the first place. Not displaying a valid licence may be one of the (petty) ways of showing one's non-conformity. I know that seems pathetic, but it is the only explanation I can think of. It does have the effect of winding-up those who want everyone to behave in the same way. Dorothy
