New Hampshire House Considers Permanent Lake Speed Limits

The New Hampshire House votes Wednesday whether to make boat speed limits permanent on the state’s largest lake.

The House will consider a Senate bill that raises the daytime limit to 50 mph and the nighttime limit to 30 mph on Lake Winnipesaukee. The bill also would eliminate a requirement for marine patrol to report violations to the division of motor vehicles for inclusion in the person’s driving record.

A House committee proposes a 45 mph daytime limit instead and agrees with the Senate on a 30 mph nighttime limit.

The Legislature set speed limits for two years starting in 2009 to test whether they were a good idea. Critics of the move to make them permanent say lawmakers should wait until the study is completed to act.