New Maine Law Requires All Boats To Be Parked In the same Direction

Augusta, Maine
Governor LePage signed a new law into effect Friday, requiring all boats be parked in the same direction, to help alleviate congestion in Maine harbors. The Bill received widespread support from The Maine Harbormaster’s Association, Maine Lobsterman’s Association and The Maine Windjammer Association, but was strongly opposed by the Maine Lobsterman’s Union.
“We can moor boats so much closer together if everyone takes the time to get their boat facing in the same direction” says Swan’s Island Harbormaster Joshua Joyce. “The extra effort is worth it so we can fit more boats in these small harbors.”
Union spokesman, Richard Hertz, from Holden said “we don’t want to have to spend our time trying to make our boats match the direction of others. What if there are no other boats? Who decides the direction then?”
Under the new law, a first offense is a $100 fine, with subsequent offenses being a one month ban from mooring/anchoring in that harbor.