There are standards for what is an excessive wake.
“The perfect example of the Pursuit of Happiness is a father being able to safely take his child salmon fishing,” was the winning argument in Legislature in 1974 regarding Puget Sound, which is considered open water.
The Snohomish River is 100 yards wide. It is not open water. Boat wakes reach both shores, and effect everyone on and along the river.
If a boat wake is large enough to launch a child out of their seat, it is excessive.
Children will continue to be injured on the river until the enforcement agencies that patrol the river start educating boaters on what the mandatory state program specifies as negligence and unlawful like the rest of the state does.
Marine Patrol Units should be on patrol when boat traffic is the highest so they can explain to boaters when their wake is excessive, and how much they need to slow down to come into compliance with the law.
Dave Grimm
Everett
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