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Alabama News

New Lake Boating Restrictions in Alabama

April 18, 2006 Update:

Alabama's Governor Riley has signed HB 756, enacting restrictions on the use of certain boats.

Alabama HB 756:

- becomes effective on July 1, 2006

- effects three lakes: Lake Harris (Lake Wedowee), Lake Martin and Weiss Lake.

- restricts the use of boats bigger than 26' 11” and capable of 60 mph, after October 1, 2006

- prohibits the use of houseboats, after July 1, 2007, except existing boats (see below)

- does not apply to sailboats

There are several exceptions. This bill:

• does not apply to houseboats that were licensed and in use on July 1, 2006, meet applicable sewage discharge requirements, are moored where there is a certified pump-out station, and are inspected annually.

• does not apply to a boat bigger than 30'6” (but not capable of going more than 60 mph) which is licensed and in use (on one of these three lakes) on July 1, 2006. However, this boat may be subject to additional rules, including a requirement for an annual permit, inspection, and fee.

• does not apply to a boat bigger than 30'6” (but not capable of going more than 60 mph) which is on site and available for sale on one of the lakes on July 1, 2006.

• However, this boat may be subject to additional rules, including a requirement for an annual permit, inspection, and fee.

Click here to read specific bill language.

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Alaska News

Loran-C Public Meetings

The US Coast Guard will be holding a series of public meetings for citizens to learn about the future of the Loran-C program and to help comment on environmental effects involving the proposed alternative action plans. The proposed alternatives include: decommissioning Loran-C, placing Loran-C under another government agency, using more automated equipment for Loran-C and reducing staffing as well as keeping Loran-C as is. Each person that would like to speak on the issue will be given a chance; you may also chose to submit written comments at the public meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting you may also electronically submit comments through http://dms.dot.gov using USCG 2007-28460 as the docket number.

The public meetings will be held August 15, 21 and 23, 2007 in Juneau, Alaska. During each meeting there will be an informational open house from 4:30-6:00 p.m. and a public scoping meeting from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The Juneau meeting will be held at: Centennial Hall Convention Center, 101 Egan Drive, Juneau, AK 99801, (907) 586-5283.

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California News


November 9, 2007: Helpful Tips For Recreational Boaters Affected By Nov 7, 2007 Bay Area Oil Spill


For thousands of San Francisco Bay area boaters, the November 7 Cosco Busan oil spill could be a real mess. As daily tides and currents move tens of thousands of gallons of thick bunker fuel closer to many marinas, local boaters as well as marinas and yacht clubs are facing potentially expensive clean up costs.

Fortunately, plans are already in place to help them. The US Coast Guard, state and local officials, along with representatives of the ship’s owners have established a Unified Command Post which will help mitigate damage and provide cleanup.

In the meantime, BoatUS recommends the following tips for recreational boaters:

• If the spill is sighted coming toward your marina or already there, call 985-781-0804 to make a report. The phone number goes to a company — contracted by the Cosco Busan owners — tasked with mitigating the damaging effects of the oil. They can bring out booms to keep the oil out of an area and may use other equipment to begin the clean up.

• If your marina or boat club already has booms in place, do not attempt to cross the booms with your boat. This will only spread the oil and damage the booms or possibly your vessel’s running gear.

• If there is oil in your marina, refrain from running engines or other devices that have seawater intakes such as air conditioners or refrigerators.

• Call your insurance company as soon as your boat is in contact with the oil. Uninsured boaters can call 866-442-9650 to file a claim.

• Damage to a BoatUS insured’s vessel that is caused by the oil spill is covered. They are directed to call 800-937-1937.

• Hauling out your boat will prevent damage, but as of press time it was undetermined if these costs were to be reimbursed by the ship’s insurance.

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February 13, 2007

Dana Point Redesign Needs Your Input

There are significant changes planned for the harbor at Dana Point. The proposed $200 million rehabilitation/redesign will change the mix of onshore boat storage and in-water dock options and alter access and parking for the launch ramp.

The proposed plans will eliminate 1,150 slips under 30 feet in length in the harbor, reduce launch ramp parking by more than 25% and turn nearly all of the on-trailer and mast up boat storage area into a 400-unit dry stack storage building. While some of the slips lost will be replaced with slips over 30 feet in length, much of the parking and trailer storage space is being changed to accommodate additional retail space in the form of a new mall, and associated parking deck, and more room at the hotel.

The Dana Point Harbor Department has held a series of workshops to discuss the plans with boaters. The next (and final) meeting is scheduled for February 20th, 7 pm at the Dana Point Youth and Group Facility, 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point Harbor. A local group of concerned boaters has formed as the Dana Point Boaters Association. They will be holding their inaugural meeting March 15 th , 7 pm at St. Edward The Confessor Catholic Church, 33926 Calle La Primavera, Dana Point, CA 92629.

For more information on the proposals and what they mean to your boating experience at Dana Point, please visit http://www.dphplan.com/ or visit the Yahoo user group dedicated to the revitalization, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DanaPointharborRevitalizationBoaters.

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Connecticut News

Connecticut– More No Discharge Zones for 2007

Boaters should be aware that additional No Discharge Zones (for sewage) were officially added to Connecticut’s waters on June 15, 2007. The area covered includes Branford, East Haven, New Haven, West Haven, Orange, Milford, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Westport, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford, and Greenwich. The area also includes the Housatonic River from the Derby Dam and the Quinnipiac River from the southern border of North Haven, CT. Under federal regulations, Type I and Type II marine sanitation devices must be locked in NDZs to prevent any sewage discharge – treated or untreated.

To see a graphic map of the area covered by Connecticut No Discharge Zones click here: http://www.epa.gov/region01/eco/nodiscrg/images/lis_west_lg.gif

http://www.epa.gov/region01/eco/nodiscrg/images/lis_east_lg.gif


For a listing of pumpout stations available in the No Discharge Zone, click here: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2705&q=323708&depNav_GID=1635
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2705&q=323708&depNav_GID=1635


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Florida News


May 28, 2008:  Boating Advisory From: Marine Industries Association of South Florida

Please Be Advised of Bridge Closures & Waterway Restrictions for the Davie Blvd. Bridge & New River, FL for June 2008

As a result of several meetings with Florida’s Department Of Transportation, United States Coast Guard, and the Astron General Contracting Company in June 2007 and again April/May, 2008 the below schedule was approved for the Davie Blvd. repairs that will take effect from June 1, 2008 – June 30, 2008.

The contractor is requesting the Davie Blvd. Bridge be closed in the down position with waterway restrictions to all marine vessels between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday for the month of June 2008 due to barge placement as a containment/work system. This waterway restriction will only allow for vessels to that require less than 21 ft of vertical clearance at mean high water and less than 25 ft of horizontal clearance pass through the bridge.

In addition, the contactor is requesting that the bridge remain in the closed position to all marine traffic during the afternoon closure period from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The waterway channel will remain open and clear of restrictions in the afternoon. This will allow vessels that require less than 21 ft of vertical clearance at mean high water and less than 60 ft of horizontal clearance to pass through the bridge.

The contractor will be responsible for safe passage of all marine vessels through the construction zone and provide warning signs at each entrance to the waterway channel. All construction equipment will be marked in accordance with USCG "Navigation Rules (CG-169)". All construction equipment will be removed from the channel when not engaged in construction activities and will be removed from the channel upon completion of each work day. The contractor will not use the channel for a staging area. If at any time during the project, weather conditions, emergencies or any other conditions threaten the safety of marine traffic, the contractor shall cease operations and clear all barges and equipment from the channel.

Additionally, the contractor will close the Davie Blvd. Bridge to all vehicular traffic for two weekends only, from 7:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.; marine traffic will be maintained. A Detour will be signed and advertised two weeks in advance of the vehicular closure. The total vehicular closure/detour is necessary to paint and rehabilitate inaccessible areas and paint the top of the bridge deck. The contractor tentatively plans to utilize the last two weekends of June 2008 (6/21-22 & 6/28-29) contingent on weather and the delivery and availability of parts.

The above schedule was agreed to as a compromise following the 2007 and 2008 planning meetings.

Please try to coordinate your vessel movements accordingly and publicize this schedule to your customers.

Please call Darlene at (772) 467-1124 with any questions. Marine Industries Association of South Florida, 2312 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

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Marco Island Anchoring Case Update - November 1, 2007:

A Collier County, FL, court ruling was made. See summary in BoatUS Press Release dated Nov. 1, 2007.

Marco Island Anchoring Case Update – August 16, 2007:

The August 14th court date for boater Dave Dumas’ case resulted in yet another delay. (The previous court hearing in June was also delayed.)

On Aug. 14, Marco Island city attorneys appeared in court with state attorneys, arguing they (the state) wanted to now assume the prosecution of the case. While Dumas’ defense team was prepared with witnesses and ready to proceed, the prosecution was in disarray. Neither the state nor the city was prepared to proceed. The judge, while highly displeased, had no option other than to reschedule the hearing; it will most likely be in October. BoatU.S. provided the defense team with an expert witness on recreational boatering and cruising.

Marco Island Waterways and Boating Safety Ordinance Update - June 22, 2007

The last meeting in court was June 7th. The prosecution was to have presented to the court their arguments answering the two motions filed by the defense on April 18th. The first motion was for dismissal of the case and the second motion was to declare the ordinance unconstitutional on ten different grounds. The prosecution was delinquent and the judge set a new date, July 10th, by which time their response is required to the court.

The judge established August 14th as the date for the hearing of the case. It is anticipated that the hearing will take a full day. It will be presided over by Judge Rob Crown starting at 0900 in the Collier County Courthouse in Naples, Florida.

Update - July 2007 BoatU.S. Magazine (press time early June)

Motions Filed in Anchoring Case

The attorney defending a Marco Island, FL, resident who deliberately got arrested for anchoring his boat in city waters past a local time limit has filed a motion to have the town's strict anchoring ordinance declared unconstitutional under Florida law. The motions were filed April 23. Another court date was set for June 7, after this issue went to press.

Attorney Donald Day of Naples, FL, asked the 20 th Judicial Circuit Court to dismiss the charges against boater Dave Dumas and rule that the Marco Island restrictions are in direct conflict with a Florida statute passed in 2006 that protects the rights of non-liveaboard boaters to anchor outside of designated mooring fields. Marco Island does not have any mooring fields but sets a three-day limit for boats in the town waters and a 12-hour limit for any boat within 300 feet of a manmade structure. (See previous story in May 2007 issue of BoatU.S. Magazine. )

The United States Constitution, federal law and Florida's Constitution, statutes and 100 years of judicial precedent prohibits local municipalities from passing laws regulating or controlling sovereign waterways,” Day stated in his motion. He has said previously that the state constitution protects the rights of citizens to use state navigable waterways and that local municipalities do not have the authority to regulate state waters.

Dumas, a BoatU.S. member, chose to make himself a test case and challenge an ordinance that became of symbol of the ever-increasing “not welcome” signs for boaters by some towns throughout Florida. Wrongfully or not, many towns enact ordinances in fear of boats being abandoned in their waters or in response to vocal waterfront property owners who do not want vessels “spoiling” their view of the water.

May 2007 update:

The May 2007 BoatU.S. Magazine featured the court case of Dave Dumas of Marco Island, FL who anchored his boat in Marco Island Bay exceeding the 12 hour anchoring limit within 300 feet of a manmade structure. His hearing was held after press time, however on April 23 Dumas’ attorney filed a motion to dismiss the charges. In addition, attorney Donald Day also filed a motion to have the Marco Island ordinance declared unconstitutional under Florida law. The next scheduled Naples Circuit Court action is June 7. To read more, go to the April 26, 2007 Marco Island News article.

Additional Information: March 2007 BoatU.S. MagazineCruisers Contest Anchoring Limits

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May 24, 2006

US Customs and Border Protection
Announces 2006 Pleasure Boating Clearance Procedures

See the Customs and US Border Travel Information for Recreational Boaters page under the State & Regional Information section.

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Kansas News

May 20, 2008

New Boating Laws Affect Kansas in 2008

In April several changes took affect to Kansas Boating Law. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks announced several of these changes that include changes in registration, speeds and sanitation devices.. Please click here to view changes in the law

 

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Maryland News

April 1, 2006

New Life Jacket Law for Children Becomes Effective April 1

On April 1, 2006, a new Maryland law governing personal flotation devices (PFDs) for children goes into effect. Under the new law, if a child is less than 4 years of age or weighs under 50 pounds, the child must wear a PFD with specific additional safety features including: a strap that is secured between the child's legs to fasten together the front and back of the PFD; an inflatable headrest or high collar to keep the child's head above water; and a web handle to ensure the ready accessibility of the child from the vessel. For more information and diagrams visit: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/pfdlaw2006.pdf

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Maryland House Bill 140 on Mandatory Life Jacket Wear

April 19, 2006 Update
Maryland House Bill 140 on Mandatory Life Jacket Wear died.

February 8, 2006 

BoatUS Government Affairs Vice President Margaret Podlich testified before the Maryland House Environmental Matters Committee today on H.B. 140, a bill that originally proposed to require everyone on the outside of a moving boat to wear a life jacket. The bill was introduced by Baltimore Del. Catherine Pugh. BoatUS also submitted written testimony on behalf of more than 34,000 BoatUS members in Maryland, to oppose this bill.

Yesterday, BoatUS spoke with Pugh's staff that there would be substantial changes in the bill. These changes were not made available in writing prior to or during the committee hearing. However, at the beginning of the hearing there was clarification from Del. Pugh on her intent to address safety issues of water taxis only .

Because of the potential impact on recreational boating, the hearing room was packed and, in addition to BoatUS, there were representatives of many boating groups, commercial captains and dozens of boaters. Of three pages of witnesses signed up to testify, no one supported H.B. 140 as introduced. Because the bill had substantially been altered from its previous draft, much of the verbal testimony that recreational boating representatives planned was shortened, however BoatUS made a point of thanking the committee for its work to remove recreational boaters from the bill.

Last year, an accident with multiple fatalities occurred in Baltimore Harbor when a water taxi capsized. Del. Pugh wants to require safety briefings and demonstrations on how to don a life jacket at the beginning of water taxi trips of any length. At the hearing, representatives of water taxis and tour boats presented information on existing U.S. Coast Guard regulations requiring safety briefings to passengers. In the event of shorter trips (less than 15 minute segments), the taxi is allowed to display this information on written placards. This is existing law, and commercial captains work with their local USCG inspectors to assure compliance. Differences between federal law and Del. Pugh's bill will have to be worked out.

BoatUS appreciates the high level of interest and involvement that members have shown on this issue in the last two weeks. BoatUS will continue to monitor this bill and insure that any rewrite of this bill, or newly introduced bills, are acceptable to recreational boating interests.

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Nevada News

Nevada PFD Requirement

On June 13, 2007 Governor Jim Gibbons signed into law Assembly Bill 13, changing the minimum age for mandatory wear of PFDs.Currently, children under the age of 12 are required to wear a Coast Guard approve PFD, this new law would increase the PFD age requirement to include children under the age of 13. This new law will go into effect on October 1, 2007. Assembly Bill 13 can be viewed at: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/AB/AB13_EN.pdf

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New Hampshire News

May 20, 2008

Boat Speed Limit Bill Clears Panal

The New Hampshire Senate Transporation Committee voted for the passage of a boating speed limit on Lake Winnipesaukee.  This bill proposes a 45 mile-per-hour daytime speed limit and a 25 mile-per-hour nighttime speed limit.  The bill also includes a provision that states if the bill is not reauthorized it will go away within 2 years. For more information please visit: http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/GJNEWS02/832284798/0/citrss6.

Lake Winnipesaukee Hearing


August 2007

A public hearing on a petition to prohibit rafting of boats on Lake Winnipesaukee, East Cove on Long Island will be held on August 31, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at the Moultonborough Town Offices in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. Please refer to the follow link for more information:

http://www.nh.gov/safety/news/documents/003_NOTICE_EastCove_NoRafting.pdf

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New Hampshire PFD Requirement

On June 18, 2007 Governor John Lynch signed into law House Bill 519, changing the minimum age for mandatory wear of PFDs. Currently, children 5 years and under are required to wear a Coast Guard approved PFD, this new law would increase the PFD age requirement to children 12 years and under. This new law will go into effect on August 17, 2007. House Bill 519 may be viewed at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2007/hb0519.html

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New Jersey News

NJ Life Jacket Bill Withdrawn

Update: Effective June 11, 2007, Assembly Bill 2212 was withdrawn from the New Jersey Legislature. This bill was introduced by Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, and if passed it would require any child less than 16 years of age to wear a flotation device at all times on board a recreational vessel.

March 29, 2006
Proposed Change in Life Jacket Law in New Jersey

New Jersey Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew (District 1: Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland), has proposed a bill (A2212) that would require kids ages 13-15 to wear a life jacket when a boat is underway. Current state law requires kids 12 years and younger to wear a PFD whenever the boat is underway.

No state currently has life jacket requirements for kids older than 12. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators has written a model act for states recommending requirements for kids 12 and younger. More than thirty states require kids 12 and younger to wear life jackets, while approximately a dozen states have lower age requirements. In the four states where there are no life jacket requirements, federal Coast Guard regulation requires kids 12 and younger to wear life jackets on federal waterways.

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Mandatory Education Bill Passes in New Jersey

January 2006

In early January 2006, New Jersey became the latest state to join the ranks of those that require boat operators to take an accredited safely class or pass a test. A bill passed in the final days of the New Jersey legislative session took effect immediately, raising concerns over the extremely short time frame for compliance. How the state is going to certify the owners of 209,000 registered boats practically overnight is unclear.

Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1978 is required to immediately take an approved boating safety course, even though the state has barely had time to determine which courses are approved. The new law applies to anyone 16 and older who operates a motorized vessel larger than 12 feet. A potential stumbling block is that volunteer boating instructors mainly offer their classes in the winter months.

Those born after Dec. 31, 1968 must take the course before June 1 of this year; those born after Dec. 31, 1958 must comply by June 1, 2007; those born after Dec. 31, 1948 must comply by June 1, 2008. All boat operators must comply by June 1, 2009. The law also updates requirements for the use of personal watercraft. Anyone 16 and older who operates a PWC must take a safety course.

While BoatUS members generally support mandatory education, BoatUS expressed concern to the bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Robert J. Smith, that the bill also required criminal background checks of all instructors — who are largely U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarists and U.S. Power Squadrons members — at their own expense. This makes little sense as they are mainly teaching adult students and such a burden on volunteers may shrink the number of available instructors when they are needed most.

The bill as passed also allows an “experienced” boater to take an equivalency test instead of a course but the level of experience is not defined. In addition, out-of-state boaters are not necessarily exempt from the law as the final version “exempts” them only if they have an equivalent education certificate from their home state. Many boaters who visit or pass through New Jersey come from states where they have no such requirement. The vast majority of state education laws exempt out-of-state boaters. How the state boating office will handle these enforcement issues is still up in the air.

The New Jersey State Police Marine Services has created a new web site to aid in answering boating questions: http://www.njsp.org/maritime

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New Mexico News

New Mexico Enacts Mandatory Education starting 2007

April 2006

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has signed a bill passed this year into law requiring mandatory education for boaters, beginning in 2007 with 18-year-olds.

The law takes effect January 1, 2007, for all boat operators born after January 1, 1989. They will be required to complete a safe boating education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and carry a certificate card while motorboating/sailing on New Mexico waters.

According to the New Mexico State Parks boating office, state residents may r egister for classes held monthly throughout the state for the formal course. On-Line Courses and approved Home Study with a proctored exam will shortly be available.

Operators who hold a U.S. Coast Guard or Canadian operator's license are exempt from the course requirement. Boat renters must go through a safety briefing by the rental company prior to operating a rental boat.

New Mexico State Parks will be looking for enthusiastic boaters with an interest in teaching boating safety to become a registered boating safety instructor. State Parks provides instructor training for those interested in teaching the Boating Basics Classroom Course. In exchange for being a volunteer the parks also provides free camping and hookups at our state parks. For information contact Officer Stephen Verchinski at 505-476-3390 or e-mail your interest.

Click here to read a full copy of the bill or to find New Mexico boating classes.

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North Carolina News

NC Legislature votes to over-ride Governor Easley's veto


HR 2167 passes - no oversize permit needed for boat trailers up to 10'

August 27, 2008


The NC General Assembly voted to override Governor Easley's veto this morning by a vote of 92-7 in the House and 39-0 in the Senate.


Click here for a copy of the bill Click Here.


This bill allows boat trailers less than 120" wide to be towed without a permit.


It also allows boat trailers 102" to 114" (8.5' to 9.5') to be towed any day at at any time.


Boat trailers 114" to 120" (9.5' to 10') may be towed only between sun up and sun down any day.


A boat or trailer wider than 102" but less than 120" must have a minimum of 2 operable amber lamps at the widest point of the boat and trailer.

 

NC Trailering Bill Awaits Governor’s Action

July 31, 2008


The North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation July 17 that would modify the state’s boat towing regulations but Gov. Mark Easley has yet to act on the bill.
If signed, H.R. 2167 would ease some towing restrictions based total boat and trailer width. Among other provisions, it would allow for towing boats and trailers up to 10 ft. wide without an oversize load permit. Boats and trailers up to 9 ft 6 in wide could be towed at any time, day or night and including weekend and holidays. Boats and trailers between 9 ft 6 in and 10 ft would be restricted to towing during daylight hours only.


Boat manufactures in the state and many anglers who tow large boats to tournaments in North Carolina sought the change. A spokesman for the Governor says he has until August 17 to either sign or veto the bill. To contact Governor Easley and ask him to act on H.R. 2167, Please Click Here.

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Oregon News

January 2007

Boating Education Required for Oregon Boaters 60 or younger in 2007

Boaters 50 and younger must now carry a boater education card when operating powerboats (including personal watercraft or any motorized watercraft) greater than 10 hp. Law enforcement officers are issuing citations for non-compliance with the Mandatory Education Law. The citation fines are $97.

Youth 12-15 also need a boater education card when operating boats 0-10 hp alone. When operating over 10 hp, a card-holding adult (16 or older, 18 for personal watercraft) must be in direct supervision (on-board, and able to immediately take corrective action in case of emergency).

There are many different options available to help you meet the requirements of this law. For more information visit: http://www.boatoregon.com/Education/index.html

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Virginia News

April 19 , 2007 Update

Virginia Boating Safety Bill Passed

The Virginia Legislature has passed House Bill 1627, Boating Safety Education, that will require all motorboat and PWC operators to take a boating safety course and carry a certificate showing successful completion of a written test, phasing in all boaters through 2016.

Official Summary: Mandatory boating safety education; civil penalty.
Makes it $100 civil penalty for anyone to operate a motorboat with a motor of 10 horsepower or greater without having successfully completed an approved boating safety education course. The education requirement is phased-in so that by July 1, 2016, all motorboat operators will have been required to complete and pass the course or an equivalency exam.

The Board is directed to develop and administer the boating safety education program through the promulgation of regulations, taking into account comments from the public. There are a number of ways a person can comply with the law other than successfully completing an approved course, such as passing an equivalency examination, possessing a valid license issued to maritime personnel, being registered as a commercial fisherman, etc. This bill is identical to SB 1241.

The following is an excerpt from the bill:

D. Such regulations shall include provisions that phase-in the requirements for boating safety education according to the following:

1. Personal watercraft operators 20 years of age or younger to meet the requirements by July 1, 2009;

2. Personal watercraft operators 35 years of age or younger to meet the requirements by July 1, 2010;

3. Personal watercraft operators 50 years of age or younger to meet the requirements by July 1, 2011;

4. All personal watercraft operators, regardless of age, to meet the requirements by July 1, 2012;

5. Motorboat operators 20 years of age or younger to meet the requirements by July 1, 2011;

6. Motorboat operators 30 years of age or younger to meet the requirements by July 1, 2012;

7. Motorboat operators 40 years of age or younger to meet the requirements by July 1, 2013;

8. Motorboat operators 45 years of age or younger to meet the requirements by July 1, 2014;

9. Motorboat operators 50 years of age or younger to meet the requirements by July 1, 2015; and

10. All motorboat operators, regardless of age, to meet the requirements by July 1, 2016.

SOURCE: Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=071&typ=bil&val=hb1627&Submit=Go

Information about Boating in Virginia: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/

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Washington

Loran-C Public Meetings

The US Coast Guard will be holding a series of public meetings for citizens to learn about the future of the Loran-C program and to help comment on environmental effects involving the proposed alternative action plans. The proposed alternatives include: decommissioning Loran-C, placing Loran-C under another government agency, using more automated equipment for Loran-C and reducing staffing as well as keeping Loran-C as is. Each person that would like to speak on the issue will be given a chance; you may also chose to submit written comments at the public meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting you may also electronically submit comments through http://dms.dot.gov using USCG 2007-28460 as the docket number.

The public meetings will be held August 15, 21 and 23, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. During each meeting there will be an informational open house from 4:30-6:00 p.m. and a public scoping meeting from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The Seattle meeting will be held at: Seattle Hilton, 1301 Sixth Avenue, Seattle WA 98101, (206) 695-6060.

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Washington D.C.

Loran-C Public Meetings

The US Coast Guard will be holding a series of public meetings for citizens to learn about the future of the Loran-C program and to help comment on environmental effects involving the proposed alternative action plans. The proposed alternatives include: decommissioning Loran-C, placing Loran-C under another government agency, using more automated equipment for Loran-C and reducing staffing as well as keeping Loran-C as is. Each person that would like to speak on the issue will be given a chance; you may also chose to submit written comments at the public meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting you may also electronically submit comments through http://dms.dot.gov using USCG 2007-28460 as the docket number.

The public meetings will be held August 15, 21 and 23, 2007 in Washington DC. During each meeting there will be an informational open house from 4:30-6:00 p.m. and a public scoping meeting from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The Washington DC meeting will be held at: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004, (202) 312-1426.

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US Virgin Island News

April 13, 2007 update

Mandatory Life Jackets in US Virgin Islands

The USVI legislature passed a law, effective September 2006, requiring everyone on board a vessel to wear a life jacket. Click here to view Bill No. 26-0206 Act No. 6823.

BoatU.S. has asked the USVI Senator who originally sponsored this legislation to clarify its intent, and narrow the scope of this requirement. This may require a new law to be passed through the Legislature. As of 4/13/07 there is no change to report in the law. If you are lucky enough to be headed to the USVI's this winter, please contact us so we can tell you the latest, and what we are hearing from fellow BoatU.S. members who have recently cruised the USVIs. Email the BoatUS Government Affairs office at GovtAffairs@BoatUS.com