An interesting item showed up in yesterday’s post about all the new laws enacted in the waning days of Congress’ regular session: the repeal of an old law.

That doesn’t happen very often. Have you ever heard of a Member of Congress promising to repeal laws once in office? No, the vast majority come to pass new laws – and that’s precisely what they do.

The repealed law required salvagers off the coast of Florida to have a license. No longer. Any one of us could go down there and do some salvaging anytime without getting anyone’s say-so. Feel freer? I know I do!

Here’s the text of the repealed law:

§ 80102. License to salvage on Florida coast

(a) LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.–To be regularly employed in the business of salvaging on the coast of Florida, a vessel and its master each must have a license issued by a judge of the district court of the United States for a judicial district of Florida.

(b) JUDICIAL FINDINGS.–Before issuing a license under this section, the judge must be satisfied, when the license is for–

(1) a vessel, that the vessel is seaworthy and properly equipped for the business of saving property shipwrecked and in distress; or
(2) a master, that the master is trustworthy and innocent of any fraud or misconduct related to property shipwrecked or saved on the coast.