BOATER EDUCATION LAW TO
CHANGE. WILL YOU BE READY?
By:
Effective January 1, 2008, the Washington State Mandatory Boating Safety Education law goes into effect. The new law requires that boaters age 20 years and younger pass a boating safety exam and obtain a Boater Education Card before operating a motorized vessel of 15 horsepower or greater. Boaters of all ages must be in compliance by 2014.
To qualify for a Boater Education
Card (BAC) you must take a course approved by the National Association of State
Boating Law Administrators and the Washington State Parks and Recreation
Commission. These courses will be available in classroom settings, online, or
home-study formats. The initial cost of
the BAC is $10.00 and you can get a replacement card for $5.00. The card will be good in Canada and other
States with boating education requirements.
Boat operators will be required to carry the card whenever they are
driving a vessel.
You can apply for a card online at www.parks.wa.gov/boating. There is a $10.00 application fee. Below is break down of years when various age
groups will need a BAC before operating a motorized boat.
YEAR AGE
GROUP
2008
12 to 20 year olds
2009
25 years and younger
2010
30 years and younger
2011
35 years and younger
2012
40 years and younger
2013
50 years and younger
2014
59 years and younger
After 2014 Card
required for any person born after Jan. 1, 1955