I am writing with a concern I feel New Jersey taxpayers need to know about. New Jersey State Police Marine Bureau has troopers conducting safe boating classes while there are more than 30 private schools approved by the State Police to do this job. This doesn’t sound like a big deal except for the fact that: 1) The taxpayers are paying for this cost; 2) The officers doing classes are not on the water helping boaters and enforcing laws – the job we pay them to do; and 3) state troopers are part of Homeland Security. This means security personnel have nothing better to do than safe boating classes.
The governor and legislators refuse to act; this might change with public awareness. I welcome any opportunity to discuss this issue and make the state accountable to the taxpayers.
Capt. Russ Binns
Coast Boating School
Toms River