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092475 1 (1971-11-29)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacwkd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: UNED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE- WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 CIVIL DIVISION 2 9 1972 1 Dear Mr. Heffelfinger: Thank you for your letter of September 17, 1971, with enclosures containing the Coast Guard's comments on our draft report entitled Review of Selected Activities of the Coast Guard Related to Recreational Boating. While the draft report was with the Department for review, the Congress passed the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-75, approved August 10, 1971), which should have a major effect on the Coast Guard's administration of the recreational boating program. We have concluded, therefore, that reporting to the Congress on pro- gram weaknesses which existed prior to the new legislation would not be timely. Our analysis of Coast Guard comments shows, however, that two areas discussed in the draft remain in need of strengthening by administrative action. Assessment and Collection of Fines Coast Guard has followed a practice of usually not fining violators of boating safety requirements. Although Coast Guard had issued penalty assessment guidelines, they were not binding on district commanders. The lenient manner in which the district commanders administered the guidelines resulted in about 47,900 of 57,400 violation cases handled during 1968, 1969 and 1970 being closed without penalty. Coast Guard indicated in its comments that the new legislation will permit the Coast Guard to simplify its penalty assessment program and that it is drafting revised regulations for this purpose. We note, how- ever, that interim instructions, Commandant Notice 5904, dated October 12, 1971, provide that district commanders will continue to determine whether or not to assess penalties for violations. In our opinion, a uniform system under which penalties are assessed which bear a realistic relation- ship to the nature of violations, is needed to promote improved boating safety. Charges for Services Because Coast Guard followed a practice of usually not charging recreational boaters for goods and services provided to them, we sug- gested that Coast Guard revise its regulations to define the circum- stances under which charges for services should be made. Our suggestion 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1921-1971

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