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? | Yes |
Other, please specify |
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If you answered "No" to the previous question, which state agency is responsible? | Deptartment of Transportation |
White Water | |
Does your state regulate vessel operation in white water areas? | Yes |
Other, please specify | |
Does your state regulate commercial white water operations? | Yes |
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? | Department of Inland Fisheries Wildlife Maine Marine Patrol/Maine State Police Combined Dive Team - Saltwater Maine Warden Service - Freshwater Department of Marine Resources |
What agency is responsible for victim recovery? | Department of Inland Fisheries Wildlife Department of Marine Resources |
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? | 16 & 17 yr. olds who will operate a PWC. |
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? | Other, please specify |
Other, please specify | N/A |
Are any other persons exempt from having to take a boating education course in your state? Please list. | No Mandate |
Exams and License/Certificate Issuance | |
Is issuance of a license/certificate dependant upon passing an exam in your state? | Other, please specify |
Other, please specify | 16 & 17 year olds for PWCs must take and pass exam |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the passing score in your state? | 70% |
Providers of Education Courses | |
State Agency | X |
US Coast Guard Auxiliary | X |
US Power Squadrons | X |
Public School System | X |
Private Company | X |
Other, please specify | any vendor whose program is NASBLA approved |
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? | Other, please specify |
Other, please specify | boat with more than 10 hp, if operater under 12-Person under 12 must be supervised by 16 year old. |
Does your state require an adult to be on board when a minor is operating a PWC? | Other, please specify |
Other, please specify | A person between 16 & 18 years of age may operate a PWC if they are accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older. |
Minimum Ages for Education Certification | |
Does your state certify minor boaters? | No |
Other, please specify | |
What is the minimum age someone can be certified in your state? | N/A |
Does your state have reciprocity for accepting out of state certification of minor boaters if the certification course meets NASBLA's Education Standards? | N/A |
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? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the required age and any other details such as horsepower rating. | when operating a motorboat with more than 10 hp, a person under age 12 must be under immediate supervison of person in boat who is at least 16. |
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. | A person under age 16 may not operate a PWC. A person between 16 & 18 years of age may operate a PWC if they have successfully completed an approved education course, or if they are accompanied by a person 18 years or older. |
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 | Yes, applicable for PWC only. |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, which type of certificates do you accept? | Any NASBLA approved certificate. |
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? | 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? | Yes |
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? | Other, please specify |
Other, please specify | within a regulation slalom course |
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. | 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 before sunrise prohibited |
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. | May not water ski in a water safety zone unless directly picking up or dropping off a skier. It is the watercraft operators responsibility not to endanger any person or property. |
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. | Watercraft that exceeds a noise level of 90 decibels when subjected to a stationary sound level test or a noise level of 75 decibels when subjected to an operational test may not be operated. |
Is there a factory muffling alteration law in your state? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the law? | It is unlawful to tamper with a motorboat muffler system in any way which increases the sound decibels. |
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? | Other, please specify |
Other, please specify | Holding tank may not be connected to hull-fitting. |
Marine Sanitation Devices | |
What are the penalties for misuse or failure to equip a vessel with a Marine Sanitation Device in your state? | Whoever violates shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500. |
What are the penalties for illegal dumping/discharge of a Marine Sanitation Device in your state? | Violator shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500. |
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? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the times. | PWC may not be operated during the hours between sunset and 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? | In addition to the operator, must have a person onboard at least 12 years of age, who is in a position to continually observe the person 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. | Certain internal waters of the state under the jurisdiction of the Land Use Regulation Commission of the Dept. of Conservation. |
Are limitations imposed on wake jumping with PWCs in your state? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please describe the limitations. | A person is guilty of imprudent operation of a watercraft if that person engages in prolonged circling, informal racing, wake jumping or other continued and repeated activities that harass another person. |
Is there a kill switch or safety lanyard requirement for PWCs in your state? | No |
Life Jackets | |
Which persons in your state are required to wear a PFD and under what circumstances? | Children 10 years of age and under. Anyone operating or riding on a PWC. Any person being towed on water-skies. Certain whitewater areas. Canoeing or kayaking on the Saco River between January 1st and June 1st between the Hiram Dam and the Atlantic Ocean. |
What are the penalties for violating PFD regulations in your state? | Civil Violation $100 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? | For a person less than 21 years of age, while having any amount of alcohol in the blood. |
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? | Joint enforcement patrols with US Coast Guard |
Are BUI checkpoints utilized in your state? | No |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how are they used? | |
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? | Yes |
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? | No |
Does your state allow the use of hand held or portable BUI enforcement equipment to be used for probable cause? | No |
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? | They are not used. |
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? | No |
Other, please specify | |
Towing Distressed Vessels | |
Do marine officers utilize random safety inspections that include boarding the boat in your state? | Yes |
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? | No |
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on the use of first aid? | No |
Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on the Good Samaritan law? | No |
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 o | |