Wisconsin currently requires a "competent person" as a third for all tow sport activities. I know I'm not the only one who has had this law keep my boat out of the water on one of the good weather days in our short season. Thankfully, both the State Senate and Assembly have bills to amend the current law to allow for a wide view mirror exception to the competent person requirement. I've linked both Senate Bill 180 and Assembly Bill 256 below.
http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/proposals/sb180
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/proposals/ab256
It appears SB180 is through committee. AB256 seems to have hit a snag in the Committee for Tourism. I am currently part of a group of people who are contacting both the chair and co-chair of the Assembly's Tourism Committee to voice support for the changes.
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/201.../assembly/1414
If you have a spare minute and are interested please send along an email to support the measure. From what I have read the mirror exemption has not been a safety issue in Minnesota, which has a boating culture and environmental restrictions quite similar to Wisconsin.
Email for committee chair:
Rep.Tranel@legis.wisconsin.gov
Email for committee vice-chair
Rep.Jarchow@legis.wisconsin.gov
Thanks
Threaded Mode