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Ohio Beefs Up Enforcement of Boater Education Law
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In an effort to reduce the number of accidents involving JetSki and Waverunner-type personal watercraft, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources plans to increase enforcement of the state's mandatory boater education law and rules that govern age restrictions for operating personal watercraft. Ohio's mandatory boater education law was enacted four years ago."Boat accident reports show three of every four operators of jet-propelled personal watercraft, the JetSki-types that have become so popular, admit they have never taken a boating education course," says Ken Alvey, chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft. "Too many people who ride and operate personal watercraft have little or no experience, or have not completed a boater education course."State law requires any person born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, to show proof they have completed a boater education course that is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators if they operate any watercraft above 10 horsepower. The law includes jet-propelled JetSki and Waverunner-type personal watercraft. The law also applies to those who rent or borrow personal watercraft, and boat rental businesses and commercial liveries are required to verify compliance.Watercraft officers plan to increase their contacts and safety checks of personal watercraft operators on Lake Erie and some of Ohio's inland boating lakes this summer, which may result in more citations for failure to complete an approved boating education course, Alvey says. Officers also will check that personal watercraft users follow rules for age restrictions.Under state law, children under age 12 may not operate a personal watercraft at any time. Children ages 12 to 15 who have completed a boater education course may operate a JetSki-type boat under direct supervision of a person age 18 or older who has completed a boater education course. Children age 16 and older may operate a personal watercraft without adult supervision if they have previously completed a boater education course.According to ODNR statistics, 42,849 personal watercraft were registered in the state in 2003. That number represents 10.2% of the state's 418,300 registered boats. Among 226 boats that were involved in accidents last year, 48 (or 21%) involved personal watercraft. The majority of these accidents involved collisions with another boat."The goal of boating law enforcement and education is to ensure the safety of all recreational boaters, reduce accidents, and encourage operators to take a boater education course before getting on the water," Alvey says.More than 400 boater education courses were held in 2003 and completed by more than 12,000 people, including 4,200 who were required to do so under the mandatory boater education law. Boater education courses are taught by the Division of Watercraft, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons and other partner organizations. In February, the ODNR Division of Watercraft awarded $365,000 in grants to 29 organizations statewide in support of boating education programs.Information on boating education courses is available online at www.ohiodnr.com."