Hunters, fishermen, kayakers and other outdoors enthusiasts are in an uproar over a bill being considered by the general assembly.
Senate Bill 220, titled Protect Private Property Rights, would stiffen rules regarding trespassing while hunting, fishing, pine straw collection, and duck hunting from blinds. It would broaden the requirement for written permission to hunt or fish on private property, as well as harvest pine straw.
The most controversial part of the bill would prohibit launching of powered or unpowered boats from public rights of way.
Senate Bill 220 was filed in the legislature on Feb. 27 by Sens. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick), Tom McInnis (R-Cumberland), and Danny Britt (R-Robeson). Rabon represents Columbus and Bladen counties, and Britt previously represented Columbus County.
The legislation states it was drafted on recommendation of NCWRC, though this has not been confirmed. The bill states: “Any person who willfully launches any motorized or unmotorized watercraft from the right-of-way of a public highway or street into a body of water adjacent to the right-of-way, except in public areas designated for boating access, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.”
If the bill became law, small boat users who use impromptu landings such as the Madison Street Soules Swamp Bridge, White Marsh on U.S. 74 and Jefferson Street, Heartbeat Bridge in Nakina, Livingston Creek in Delco, and elsewhere in the county could be charged with trespassing. Boaters would also be prevented from launching kayaks and canoes below the Lake Waccamaw State Park Dam.
The American Canoe Association said on its website that the bill is a poor idea.
“A very large percentage of river access in the state would be made illegal if this bill passes,” the ACA said. “Paddling on North Carolina’s rivers and streams is a well established right that contributes to the state’s recreation economy, manufacturing sector, and the quality of life for many residents. Roads and rivers are two public transportation systems that intersect at bridges.
“In order for the public to be able to enjoy our paddling rights, we have to be able to use bridges to get on and off of the water. SB 220 is a dubious effort to strip away the public right to float rivers by eliminating access rights.”
A petition at change.org, named “Prevent Passage of NC Senate Bill 220 Section 4 that Limits Public Access to Waterways”, gathered more than 2,400 signatures in less than 48 hours.
One of the signers, a Charlotte kayaker, noted in the comment section that North Carolina has more than 18,000 bridges, many of which are used as access points for boaters with one- and two-man craft.
“That is how many public access points this law is trying to eliminate to the public water. We have the right to travel on the highway and any public land. We have the right to travel navigable waters.”
The WRC said in a statement that the legislation was primarily to address problems with trespassing, complaints of which have been on the increase in recent years.
“The agency did provide recommendations to the legislature to address trespassing issues,” WRC Spokesperson Anna Gurney said in an email. “However, the bill that was filed is not entirely reflective of our recommendations. We are in conversation with bill sponsors and look forward to working with them moving forward.”
The bill is currently on hold for discussion.
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