By Pat Bradley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-979802.mp3
Washington, D.C. – For more than a century, boaters on the St Lawrence Seaway and other waters that share the U.S. and Canada border have not worried about reporting to border authorities if they did not anchor nor dock. But on May 30th an American recreational boater was stopped and boarded by a Canadian Border Services Agency officer. The boater was forced to pay a thousand dollar fine or have his vessel confiscated for not reporting his entry into Canadian waters. The incident led to widespread confusion and anger. Congressman Bill Owens has been working to find a solution to the situation.......
Owens has introduced legislation to waive the reporting requirement for Canadian boaters....
Congressman Owens is working with Canadian Member of Parliament Gordon Brown on reciprocal legislation or regulation.....
St Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Executive Pat McKeown is the county's tourism promotion agent. She says there's a lot of confused boaters.............
Canadian officials released revised regulations allowing American boaters to report by cell phone when entering Canadian waters. Canada's Public Safety Minister also is conducting a review of the regulations. The American boater that precipitated the controversy had his fine reduced to one dollar.