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? |
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White Water | |
Does your state regulate vessel operation in white water areas? | |
Other, please specify | |
Does your state regulate commercial white water operations? | No |
Other, please specify | |
Search & Rescue | |
Does your agency have a dive team? | |
Other, please specify | |
What agency is responsible for Search and Rescue operations? | Natural Resources Police, State and Local |
What agency is responsible for victim recovery? | Natural Resources Police, State and Local |
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? | Anyone born on or after July 1, 1972 who is operating a motorized vessel on MD waters must have a valid certificate of boating safety education |
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? | Other, please specify |
Other, please specify | There's a 30 day waiver for out-of-state residents |
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. | Commercial watermen who are operating a vessel while working |
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 | X |
Private Company | X |
Other, please specify | Colleges, fire departments, Parks & Recreation |
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? | Other, please specify |
Other, please specify | Must be at least 16 years of age to operate a PWC |
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? | There is none |
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? | 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 towing vessel (water skiing, etc.), the operator and observer must be at least 12 years of age. |
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. | 16 |
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 only |
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 time |
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? | 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. | sunrise to sunset only |
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? | |
Does your state require the use of a skier down flag? | No |
Describe any other water skiing restrictions in your state. | Must be 100 feet from everything unless taking off from the shore. |
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 louder than 90 decibels |
Is there a factory muffling alteration law in your state? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the law? | |
Is boat noise governed by local ordinance in your state? | |
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? | Fines and/or civil penalties |
What are the penalties for illegal dumping/discharge of a Marine Sanitation Device in your state? | fines and/or civil penalties |
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? | Instruction and sucessful completion of a test |
Does your state prohibit PWC operation at any specific times? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the times. | 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? | Pwc's must be able to carry operator, observer and skier (at least 3pob capacity) |
Personal Watercraft Restrictions | |
Is there a speed limit specific to PWCs other than slow/no wake zones in your state? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the speed limit. | Must operate at a speed of less than 6 knots if operating pwc within 100' of other boats, people in the water, docks and bridge abutments |
Is PWC operation restricted within any area or zone in your state? | No |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the restricted area or zone. | |
Are limitations imposed on wake jumping with PWCs in your state? | Yes |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please describe the limitations. | Pwc's may not jump or attempt to jump the wake of another vessel within 100' of the vessel. This is considered negligent operation |
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 children under the age of 7 must wear a pfd while on a recreational vessel under 21' in lenght while underway. This requirement does not apply when the vessel is moored,anchored or in an enclosed cabin or below deck. |
What are the penalties for violating PFD regulations in your state? | Fines, which rise with every additional pfd not on board a vessel |
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? | No |
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the BAC level for minors? | |
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? | Several patrol vessels with officers will saturate an area for 2- 6 hours. |
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? | No |
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? | 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? | Unknown |
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? | Yes |
Other, please specify | |
Are marine officers allowed to tow vessels in distress in your state? | Other, please specify |
Other, please specify | Under certain restrictions,ex. emergency situation |
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? | 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 | |