Boating Bill Passes Kentucky Senate

The Kentucky Senate has passed a bill that would require law enforcement officers of Kentucky's waterways to meet stricter standards before stopping and boarding recreational boats.

Marina operators, testifying before legislators, have recently reported a growing wave of complaints from boaters about overzealous officers.

The bill's sponsor is Republican Sen. Chris Girdler of Somerset, whose district includes the Lake Cumberland region, a boating and fishing haven.

Girdler says that the bill will also be an important protection for the tourism-based economy in the state's boating areas.  The bill passed out of the Senate on Thursday on a 35-0 vote. It now moves to the House for consideration.