State Boating Laws

Vermont

Question	Data
Commercial Vessels
Does your state/territory regulate commercial vessels on sole state waters?	No
Other, please specify
If you answered yes to the previous question, is your agency responsible for enforcing regulations on commercial vessels on sole state waters?	No
Other, please specify
If you answered "No" to the previous question, which state agency is responsible?	No state agency is. The U.S. Coast Guard regulates as our only commercial vessels are on federal/state waters.
White Water
Does your state regulate vessel operation in white water areas?	No
Other, please specify
Does your state regulate commercial white water operations?	No
Other, please specify
Search & Rescue
Does your agency have a dive team?	Yes
Other, please specify
What agency is responsible for Search and Rescue operations?	U.S. Coast Guard with assistance from the Vermont State Police Marine Division.
What agency is responsible for victim recovery?	Vermont State Police.
Boating Education Requirements
Does your state require mandatory boating safety education for some segment of the population?	Yes
Who is required to complete a boating education course in your state?	Any person born after January 1, 1974.
Are only residents of your state required to complete a boating education course?	No
Other, please specify
Education Exemptions
Are non-residents exempt from having to take a boating education course in your state?	No
Other, please specify
Are U.S. Coast Guard licensed operators exempt from having to take a boating education course in your state?	Yes
Other, please specify
Are any other persons exempt from having to take a boating education course in your state? Please list.	Only persons born before January 1, 1974.
Exams and License/Certificate Issuance
Is issuance of a license/certificate dependant upon passing an exam in your state?	Yes
Other, please specify
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the passing score in your state?	80%
Providers of Education Courses
State Agency	X
US Coast Guard Auxiliary	X
US Power Squadrons	X
Public School System
Private Company
Other, please specify
Minors, Powerboats Personal Watercraft
Does your state require an adult to be on board when a minor is operating a motor-powered vessel other than a PWC?	No
Other, please specify
Does your state require an adult to be on board when a minor is operating a PWC?	No
Other, please specify
Minimum Ages for Education Certification
Does your state certify minor boaters?	Yes
Other, please specify
What is the minimum age someone can be certified in your state?	Age 10.
Does your state have reciprocity for accepting out of state certification of minor boaters if the certification course meets NASBLA's Education Standards?	Yes.
Mandatory Boat Operator Licensing
Does your state require mandatory boat operator licensing?	Yes
Other, please specify
Minimum Ages for Non-PWC Vessels
Does your state set a minimum age requirement to operate a motor powered vessel other than a PWC?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the required age and any other details such as horsepower rating.	Any person under the age of 12 can not operate a motor boat of more than 6 horse power.
Does your state set any minimum age requirements to operate a PWC?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the requirements.	Must be 16 years of age or older and have a boating safety certificate.
Minimum Ages for Non-Powered Vessels
Are there any minimum age requirements in your state to operate non-powered vessels such as sailboats, canoes or kayaks?	No
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the requirements.
Education Reciprocity
Do you accept out-of-state boating education certificates in your state?	Yes
Other, please specify
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, which type of certificates do you accept?	NASBLA approved certificates.
Does your state honor NASBLA-approved course reciprocity for non-residents?	Yes
Other, please specify
Wallet-Sized Certificates
Does your state issue wallet size boating certificate cards?	Yes
Other, please specify
How long are education certificates/student wallet cards valid in your state?	Good for life.
Challenge Exams
Does your state allow students to take a challenge exam to meet your state boating education requirement?	No
Other, please specify
Online Courses & Proctoring
Does your state have any laws in place which expressly prohibit online boating safety courses?	No
Other, please specify
Does your state require boating safety tests to be proctored?	No
Other, please specify
Water Skiing
Does your state require an observer to be present when pulling a skier?	Yes
Other, please specify
Does your state require a mirror to be present when pulling a skier?	No
Other, please specify
Does your state prohibit water skiing during any specific time of the day/night?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please describe the time(s) when skiing is prohibited.	No skiing between sunset and sunrise.
Water Skiing
Does your state require a skier to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD?	Yes
Are self-propelled skis allowed to be used in your state?	Yes
Does your state require the use of a skier down flag?	No
Describe any other water skiing restrictions in your state.	There is an exception to the observer law but it is very specific in nature. Used by professional skiers only.
Motorboat Noise
Is there a maximum noise level for motorboats in your state?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please give the levels and standard used.	No more than 82 decibels on the A scale at 50 feet in a normal operating environment.
Is there a factory muffling alteration law in your state?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the law?	The use of cutouts is prohibited.
Is boat noise governed by local ordinance in your state?	No
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the local ordinance?
Marine Sanitation Devices
Does your state prohibit Y-valve through-hull discharge in waters of state jurisdiction?	Yes
Other, please specify
Does your state require Y-valves to be locked/closed in waters of state jurisdiction?	Yes
Other, please specify
Marine Sanitation Devices
What are the penalties for misuse or failure to equip a vessel with a Marine Sanitation Device in your state?	Up to a $371.00 fine.
What are the penalties for illegal dumping/discharge of a Marine Sanitation Device in your state?	Civil penalty up to $25,000, a fine up to $50,000 and imprisonment up to 5 years.
Personal Watercraft Operation
Does your state require users to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD when operating a PWC?	Yes
Does your state require PWC rental operators to provide any instruction or education in PWC operation prior to use?	No
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how much instruction is required?
Does your state prohibit PWC operation at any specific times?	No
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the times.
Personal Watercrafts and Skiers
Does your state allow PWCs to pull water skiers?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, are there any restrictions?	Must have an observer.
Personal Watercraft Restrictions
Is there a speed limit specific to PWCs other than slow/no wake zones in your state?	No
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the speed limit.
Is PWC operation restricted within any area or zone in your state?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the restricted area or zone.	On any bodies of water less than 300 surface acres and on some waters noted under the "Collected Management Rules for Vermont Waters".
Are limitations imposed on wake jumping with PWCs in your state?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please describe the limitations.	Must not be within 200 feet of any other vessel traveling at more than 5 mph and/or creating a wake.
Is there a kill switch or safety lanyard requirement for PWCs in your state?	Yes
Life Jackets
Which persons in your state are required to wear a PFD and under what circumstances?	Childen under the age of 12 while underway on an open deck are required to wear a PFD. Any person on board a PWC and any person under 16 while on a sailboard.
What are the penalties for violating PFD regulations in your state?	Fine up to $84.00.
Blood Alcohol Content
What is the BAC level at which a person is considered intoxicated in your state?	0.08
Does your state have a lower threshold for BAC for minor boaters?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the BAC level for minors?	Under 21 .02
Boating Under the Influence
Does a BUI conviction impact an offender's automobile driving privileges in any way in your state?	No
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how are their privileges impacted?
BUI Saturation Patrols & Checkpoints
Are BUI saturation patrols utilized in your state?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how are they used?	On occasion ther are multi agency saturation patrols.
Are BUI checkpoints utilized in your state?	Yes
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how are they used?	In conjunction with the saturation patrols.
Alcohol Testing for BUI
Does your state allow blood tests to determine BAC or BUI?	Yes
Does your state allow breath tests to determine BAC or BUI?	Yes
Does your state allow urine tests to determine BAC or BUI?	No
Test Usage in Criminal Evidence
Blood	X
Breath	X
Urine
Field Sobriety Tests
Does your state require field sobriety tests to be conducted on shore?	Yes
Other, please specify
Can refusal of a test be used against a boater in criminal prosecution in your state?	Yes
Other, please specify
Do marine officers utilize random BUI inspections that include boarding the boat in your state?	No
Negligent Operation of a Vessel
Does your state allow officers to issue citations for negligent operation of a vessel?	Yes
Portable BUI Equipment
Does your state allow the use of hand held or portable BUI enforcement equipment?	Yes
Does your state allow the use of hand held or portable BUI enforcement equipment to be used for probable cause?	Yes
Does your state allow the use of hand held or portable BUI enforcement equipment to be used for evidentiary purposes?	No
What percentage of law enforcement officers have access to hand held or portable BUI enforcement equipment in your state?	1%
Probable Cause
Does state law require probable cause for marine officers to stop a vessel?	Yes
Other, please specify
Does state law require probable cause for marine officers to board a vessel?	Yes
Other, please specify
Towing Distressed Vessels
Do marine officers utilize random safety inspections that include boarding the boat in your state?	Other, please specify
Other, please specify	Yes, boarding to inspect the marine sanitation div
Are marine officers allowed to tow vessels in distress in your state?	Yes
Other, please specify
Are seaplanes "on the water" treated as vessels in your state?	Yes
Other, please specify
Liability Insurance
Does your state mandate liability insurance for boaters?	No
On-Water Pursuits
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on on-water pursuit?	Yes
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on interstate on-water pursuit?	Yes
Transporting Subjects, Accident Victims, Guests
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on transporting subjects?	Yes
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on transporting accident victims?	Yes
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on transporting guests?	Yes
Officer Safety
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on requiring officers to wear Coast Guard-approved PFDs?	Yes
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on skin care safety for officers?	No
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on hearing safety for officers?	No
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on back safety for officers?	No
Towing Distressed Vessels
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on towing distressed vehicles?	Yes
First Responders, First Aid, Good Samaritans, Search and Rescue
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on being a first responder at an accident?	Yes
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on the use of first aid?	Yes
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on the Good Samaritan law?	Yes
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on search and rescue?	Yes
Inter-agency Interacton
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on interaction with local agencies?	Yes
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on interaction with other state agencies?	Yes
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on interaction with federal agencies?	Yes
Investigation of Theft & Fraud
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on investigation of theft?