Question | Data |
Commercial Vessels | |
Does your state/territory regulate commercial vessels on sole state waters? | Yes |
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? | Yes |
Other, please specify |
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If you answered "No" to the previous question, which state agency is responsible? | |
White Water | |
Does your state regulate vessel operation in white water areas? | Yes |
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? | Local Fire/Rescue and VDGIF Law Enforcement Division |
What agency is responsible for victim recovery? | Local Fire/Rescue and VDGIF Law Enforcement Division |
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? | Currently only ages 14 and 15 for personal watercraft. Beginning July 1, 2009 compliance with boating safety education will be phased in according to age category. |
Are only residents of your state required to complete a boating education course? | Yes |
Other, please specify | |
Education Exemptions | |
Are non-residents exempt from having to take a boating education course in your state? | Yes |
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. | Those in possession of a marine certificate issued by the Canadian government; those who pass an equivalency (challenge) exam; those operating under the onboard direct supervision of a person meeting the education requirement; commercial fishermen; law-enforcement officers while engaged in the performance of their official duties. |
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? | 70% for a classroom course |
Providers of Education Courses | |
State Agency | X |
US Coast Guard Auxiliary | X |
US Power Squadrons | X |
Public School System | |
Private Company | X |
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? | 14 for personal watercraft operation |
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? | No |
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? | No |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the required age and any other details such as horsepower rating. | |
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. | ages 14 and 15 must pass a NASBLA approved course to operate a PWC |
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? | Course completion certificates/cards |
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? | No expiration date |
Challenge Exams | |
Does your state allow students to take a challenge exam to meet your state boating education requirement? | Yes |
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? | Other, please specify |
Other, please specify | Only challenge exams |
Water Skiing | |
Does your state require an observer to be present when pulling a skier? | No |
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. | Prohibited one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before 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. | Must wear PFD if no dedicated observer other than the boat operator |
Motorboat Noise | |
Is there a maximum noise level for motorboats in your state? | No |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please give the levels and standard used. | |
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 cut-outs 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? | Class 1 misdemeanor |
What are the penalties for illegal dumping/discharge of a Marine Sanitation Device in your state? | Class 1 misdeameanor |
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? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how much instruction is required? | Must cover laws governing motorboat operation, specific operating requirements of the PWC being rented, safety equipment requirements, reportable accident requirements, and other information as may be determined. |
Does your state prohibit PWC operation at any specific times? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the times. | Prohibited sunset to sunrise |
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? | Capacity of the PWC must be able to legally accommodate the operator, passengers, and those being towed. |
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. | Restricted to no-wake speed when within 50 feet of docks, piers, boathouses, boat ramps, people in the water, and vessels other than PWC. |
Are limitations imposed on wake jumping with PWCs in your state? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please describe the limitations. | Reckless operation of a PWC if jumping the wake of another vessel more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the speed of both vessels and the traffic on and the condition of the waters at the time. |
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? | All operators and passengers of PWCs |
What are the penalties for violating PFD regulations in your state? | Maximum $250 fine |
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? | 0.02 |
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? | Used to increase number of officer patrols in a specific area of a waterbody |
Are BUI checkpoints utilized in your state? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how are they used? | Used to stop all boats traveling through a particular area. |
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? | No |
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? | No |
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? | No |
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? | No |
Other, please specify | |
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? | No |
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? | No |
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on interstate on-water pursuit? | No |
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? | No |
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? | No |
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? | No |
Inter-agency Interacton | |
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on interaction with local agencies? | No |
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on interaction with other state agencies? | No |
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on interaction with federal agencies? | No |
Investigation of Theft & Fraud | |
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