VHF licensing GB v USA

[limeydal]

Just completed my Coast guard aux boating safety course and was surprised at the VHF licensing laws over here.
The main fact being, you dont need any license!
When I enquired as to why and didn't that cause abuse of the system the main answer was safety.
They want as many people as possible out there with radios on their boats and listening to them.
They believe the advantages of this far outweigh the drawbacks.
That together with very stiff fines for radio "abuse" and emergency call out false alarms.
Strange though, as soon as you cross into Mexican waters they do require a license.Actually 2 . I for the set and one to use it. So is it a also a question of gaining revenue in the UK ?
Dont know how it works over there but would be interested to get a differant opinion,
cheers Dal

[Mike Martin]

Situation is just ever so slightly more complicated than you've been led to believe, details here at FCC website
http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/fctsht14.html

To sum up because US Pleasure Craft rarely venture outside of US TWaters there is a vessel classification of " Domestic Vessel" same situation for Aircraft. New zealand and Australia have a similar set-up.

Mike

[limeydal]

Mike,
thanks for putting it in a "nutshell". Makes a lot of sense.
cheers dal