This is sad DUI case on the water.
- Thread starter ben2go
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The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
CoolBeans
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So sad to hear about this accident! Makes you wonder if the boat was over capacity and they had proper life jackets for everyone. I believe infants and young children are required it wear PFDs........or at least in Florida.
OP
OP
ben2go
Guru
Yes.They are required here for kids too.I don't know the cut off age.I wear mine because of all the aggressive operators on our lakes.
The South Carolina law:
I suspect South Carolina only passed this law so Federal law would not apply. It's about as weak as possible and does little to protect children from ignorant (or drunk) adults.
We would think people would learn not to drink and operate boats but it doesn't seem to be happening.
I suspect South Carolina only passed this law so Federal law would not apply. It's about as weak as possible and does little to protect children from ignorant (or drunk) adults.
We would think people would learn not to drink and operate boats but it doesn't seem to be happening.
OP
OP
ben2go
Guru
My point was, the US government allowed the state laws to prevail even though they might be less strict than the federal law.
magicbus
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Well it's been said that you can't regulate stupid so you have to wonder what effect the laws have in a case like this. Federal or state.
Dave
Dave
Not much of a deterrent as we see here. Pretty much all they do is give society the power to lock folks up and protect the rest of us from them.
windmill29130
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South Carolina law requires all children under 12 years of age to wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD while on board a Class A (less than 16 feet long) vessel. The life jacket must be fastened and of the proper size for the child.
psneeld
Guru
An old law enforcement magazine cover quoted someone in saying something like this...
"it's not the severity of punishment that deters crime...it's the inevitability of it that does."
If people think they can get away with something...all too many will.
"it's not the severity of punishment that deters crime...it's the inevitability of it that does."
If people think they can get away with something...all too many will.
willysross
Veteran Member
You need a license to drive a car but only need a credit score to buy and drive a boat.
You have to fill out 4 pages to rescue an animal at the shelter-- but nothing to have a child.
You have to fill out 4 pages to rescue an animal at the shelter-- but nothing to have a child.
psneeld
Guru
Licenses don't stop DUIs on the water, on the road or keep airline pilots from drinking.
Most states require boating safety education that overemphasises DUI and not some of the more useful stuff because as I pointed out...it's a bigger issue than "just" licensing or education.
I don't think most states require boating safety education. Some do for young boaters but that still leaves millions of older people operating boats without the requirement of any boating education or testing.
Even with required education and testing, if the person being "educated" doesn't agree with or believe the educator, he or she will not learn anything. They just put the correct answers on the test and continue what they were doing before the education. We've seen that on boating forums many times.
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That's the truth and that's a shame.
psneeld
Guru
We know boater education can save lives and reduce accidents and injuries on the water. In the United States, more than 40 states have educational requirements for operating a boat or PWC on state waters. In Canada, all provinces have educational requirements for operating pleasure craft.
Boat Ed - Boating Safety Course and Exam - Official Boat License and Boater Safety Test
Education and knowledge is a wonderful thing....
Boat Ed - Boating Safety Course and Exam - Official Boat License and Boater Safety Test
Education and knowledge is a wonderful thing....
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That is misleading because it doesn't apply to all boaters as I mentioned above. In most of these states, boaters born before a certain date are "grandfathered" and not required to pass a boating safety test. In MD, all I needed to operate a boat was a boat. I moved to SC and it was the same requirement - you just need a boat. There's a marina near me that advertises "boats for rent, no experience needed".
A notable exception is Washington, DC where you must carry a certificate of completion of an approved boating safety course regardless of your age and regardless or the requirements in your home state.
A notable exception is Washington, DC where you must carry a certificate of completion of an approved boating safety course regardless of your age and regardless or the requirements in your home state.
psneeld
Guru
Misleading to you...
This is what I said...which is entirely accurate...
"Most states require boating safety education that overemphasises DUI and not some of the more useful stuff because as I pointed out...it's a bigger issue than "just" licensing or education."
I never said it was worthwhile or comprehensive in material or population.
Even in the states such as NJ where it's very strict...like I said ...it does little to prevent dangerous personality driven issues.
This is what I said...which is entirely accurate...
"Most states require boating safety education that overemphasises DUI and not some of the more useful stuff because as I pointed out...it's a bigger issue than "just" licensing or education."
I never said it was worthwhile or comprehensive in material or population.
Even in the states such as NJ where it's very strict...like I said ...it does little to prevent dangerous personality driven issues.
It's misleading to anyone who takes it at face value and you know it..
markpierce
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California recently passed a boater education requirement. It will be phased in over a period of about 10 years, with younger persons being subject to the requirement earlier compared to older persons.
psneeld
Guru
Good another state with the chance to get it right...are they blindly following the NASBLA format? If you don't know I hope I can find out the program guidelines on line.
Most states either limit the requirement basing it on the assumption of experience or they phase it in like NJ that gives the oldtimers a chance to study up...
The map shows South Carolina as requiring boater education. Here is the regulation from the DNR website:
This means a person sixteen years old or older does not need to pass an approved boater education course to operate a boat in SC.
So while the map is not incorrect, it implies that boaters in SC have passed an approved boating course when in fact, the vast majority of boat operators in SC are not covered by the requirement. It's an example of a way to use information in a misleading way.
This means a person sixteen years old or older does not need to pass an approved boater education course to operate a boat in SC.
So while the map is not incorrect, it implies that boaters in SC have passed an approved boating course when in fact, the vast majority of boat operators in SC are not covered by the requirement. It's an example of a way to use information in a misleading way.
