Safe Boaters of New Hampshire
“To promote safety through education and legislation that works”
http://www.SBONH.ORG
Safe Boaters of NH backs a change to the mandatory boating certificate law.
Representative Chris Christensen and the Marine Patrol seek to close a loophole.
For Immediate Release:
Safe Boaters of New Hampshire applauds the efforts of the New Hampshire Marine Patrol and Rep. Chris Christensen as they seek to make NH waterways even safer.
A loophole in the current mandatory boating certificate law grants the right of very young children to operate motorized vessels without a safe boating certificate, while the child’s parent can not operate that same boat without a certificate.
As Rep. Christensen says “Under current law a 2 year old can operate a boat independently if it is less than 25 horse power.” Safe Boaters of New Hampshire feels this is an obvious oversight in the law that needs to be addressed.
Rep. Christensen is seeking to close this loophole at the request of the NH Marine Patrol by ensuring that no one under 12 years old can operate any motorized vessel without a certified supervising adult on board. The bill also allows children 12 to 15 to obtain a Safe Boating Certificate in order to operate a boat limited to 25 horsepower or less.
Safe Boaters of New Hampshire wholeheartedly endorses this bill.