Children:
-
Children 12 and under must wear a
life jacket when a vessel is underway unless in
an enclosed cabin or below deck. (the age used
to be 11 and under).
-
A child under 16 without a SBC
may operate a vessel other than a PWC if under
the direct supervision of a person 18 or older
who has had their SBC or CPWO for at least 2
years.
-
Owners who knowingly permit a
child under 16 to operate their vessel without
an SBC or CPWO when one is required will be held
accountable for the actions of the child.
-
(Reminder – not new) A child
under 16 with a CPWO may operate a PWC if under
the direct onboard supervision of a person 18 or
older who has their CPWO.
Temporary Certificates:
-
Temporary CPWOs (issued after the
2.5 hour class) and SBCs are now good for three
months only. It used to be six months.
Boat Livery:
-
A definition for a "Boat Livery"
has now been included in the law. Previously it
was not defined.
-
The rental agreement must be
carried on board.
-
A rented vessel must be
registered as a livery vessel.
-
A livery operator must not allow
a renter to depart the boat livery in a rented
vessel if the renter is required to have a
SBC/CPWO but does not. (However, a renter can
still operate a rented vessel - other than a PWC
- for up to 14 days without a SBC/CPWO)
Boating Education:
-
A person taking a SBC class may
operate a vessel without an SBC if under the
direct supervision of a DEP-certified class
instructor.
-
No person may teach an
unsanctioned boating/PWC safety class that
satisfies the requirements for issuance of a
SBC.
-
No person may use State boating
educational materials for their profit.
Equipment Requirements:
-
The federal laws for carrying
safety equipment and for navigation lights on a
vessel will now apply statewide.
Public Act 09-140 –
Boating Safety, Effective July 1, 2009
Section 1
- creates a
new crime of manslaughter in the second degree when
operating a vessel while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs. This new crime is a class C
felony and after conviction the operator of the
vessel shall have their safe boating certificate or
certificate of personal watercraft operation
suspended for a period of one year.
Section 5 - repeals and replaces C.G.S. §15-133c(b)
wherein the Department of Environmental Protection
will also be notified of a conviction pursuant to
Section 1 of this Act.
Section 13 - repeals and replaces C.G.S. §15-156(d) to
include this new crime under the penalty provisions
for operating a vessel with a suspended boating or
watercraft certificate. Under §15-156(d)(2) the
penalty for a violation of Section 1 of this Act
where such person’s certificate or right to operate
a vessel is suspended, shall be a fine of not less
than $500 and not more than $1,000 and imprisoned
not more than a year, with a mandatory minimum of 30
days, absent any mitigating circumstances.
