New law in effect in North Carolina
 

Anyone heard about this??? http://coastguardaux.com/f9_9/Misc/NC-Law-43.pdf

Long time coming, should have been done all over the USA years ago.

wow.. news to me.. googled it.. found this..

http://www.ncwildlife.org/NewsReleas..._Next_Year.htm

One section is this:::
“The law, with certain exemptions, applies to anyone younger than 26 years old who is operating a vessel powered by a 10 horsepower or greater motor on public waterways,”

interesting.. wonder why the age limit?

Va passed a boaters "drivers license" requirement that will phase in over the next couple years. The younger you are the sooner you must be have passed a course. I have 2-3 more years left but have signed up for a class next month that my father, myself, and my 13 year old will taking. I have no problem with the classes, hopefully it will teach at least a couple idiots the rules of the water.

I agree Catmando, but 26?? My son is 21 and has been riding a jet ski for 8 years. I agree that maybe a driver license or 21 but who came up with 26?

My father is 62 and will be required to get one by 2015. How many 40 year olds go buy the family a boat......and have no idea what they are doing?

Give'm A Inch

Jersey phased it in also, by birthdate. Now I think everyone needs the license. They also had a test out option, if you have so many years experience you could take a test and get the license without the course.

Sounds more it is about money and little else. Well the additional state employees also.

New Jersey has a similar law .

It is a way for them to tie the things that happen on the lake to the things that happen on the road so that it effects your points and is not just a fine.

Taxation, this is not a free society, no matter what the situation, marine police **** ! and the last bastion of freedom goes away! "Saftey" is not the issue, Screw up on the water, you die end of story! Cant and dont want to protect the masses! That coming from an experinced CAPT. Bottom line as a pro "we" dont some moron with a jet ski or entry level boat on the water anyway! Go take your kid to his *** soccer game!!!!!

Ct. has a boat and jet ski class's to take for either of them. You need the cert. just to register them.also on the water its like a license. started back in the mid 90's. when I took it it was a 6 week boating/safty class. now its an 8 hour class that a 10 year old can pass with no problems. how much can you really learn in 8 hours?????

Obviously safety is #1 priority, with that said, it's all a business. Getting a license or something equivalent on the water is just to generate money. If the gov. can profit from it, they're interested, and don't let them fool you that it's in our best interest. I do my boating around Long Island and as far as I know, these waters were created by mother nature, not the government. They have no right to charge me to use something thats not theirs. I understand people need to be responsible, but we have as much right to that water as the authorities. Tax payers pay their salaries, not boaters.

I would say alot more than you think (at least before the recession)
:eek::o

I took the class last weekend. The class is free and lasted 6 hours. At the end of the class they give a 60 question multiple choice test. Most of the boat owners there over the age of 26, were taking the safety class to get a break on insurance.

LKNTREV
Where was the class held? I might be interested for the insurance break.. as long as it is free...haha

It was held at the Bass Pro Shop at the Concord Mills Mall.

Russ, FYI, you can also take it online.

I know......I've boated my entire life (as my father has) and feel I really only need the piece of paper. Since I (we) want my kids to actually learn something we decided to take the Sat class with my kids. It's free at BassPro once a month.

Nothings beats the good ole court appointed Power Squadron class!!!