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MANDATORY Boater Education Now Law If you haven't heard by now, Governor Gregoire has signed into law legislation that requires boat operators to take a boater safety education course in order to operate a boat in Washington State. This means that anyone operating a boat with 15 horsepower or more will be required to have completed a basic boating class, or equivalency exam (Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadron or other approved class), which qualifies them for a Boater Education Card. The card is not a license, it just shows you took the course, and is good for life. Before you go running out, looking for a course near you, you'll be glad to know that the law will have a "phased-in" period for compliance, beginning in 2008. Boaters born before January 1, 1955 will be exempt—Ah, just another advantage of being older. I can just show them my AARP card if I get stopped. For you youngsters, i.e. boaters 30 years and younger, you'll be required to have a card by January 1, 2010. So, no panic there. The bill was developed by the Washington Alliance for Mandatory Boater Education (WAMBE), made up of representatives from a variety of concerned boating groups: boating industry, recreational boating, law enforcement and marine safety. "We tried to include representatives from all facets of the boating arena in WAMBE", commented David Kutz, Secretary of WAMBE and President of the Recreational Boating Association of Washington, in a WAMBE press release. "This has been a real team effort, resulting in a sensible law that has broad support among boaters." We've been talking about this for years in the magazine and the concept of mandatory boater education has had mixed reviews. I believe it was inevitable and I'm glad boaters had a major part in forming it (based on similar legislation in Oregon). One of my biggest concerns has always been, "How are they going to pay for it?", and overloading a beleagured State Parks system. The new law is to be administered by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission's Boating Safety Program. The $10 card user fee presumably will support the whole program but, I find that a bit optimistic. Mandatory Boater Education has been lurking in the weeds for years and I've voiced my reluctance to jump on board. But now that it's fact, we need to thank WAMBE and its organizations for their efforts in making it as boater friendly as possible. Here's hoping this program accomplishes its authors' intent; to make our waterways safer for all. For the complete text of the new law, visit the WAMBE website: www.wambe.org. |
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