Good news!Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday signed legislation (
S.5685/A.4853.A) - or Brianna's Law - to phase in requirements that all operators of motorized watercraft must complete a state-approved boating safety course. Brianna's Law is named after Brianna Lieneck, an 11-year-old Long Island girl who was killed in a 2005 boating accident. The Governor also directed State Parks to launch a boating safety promotional campaign to remind boaters of the new requirement to take a safety course.
"Boating has become much more popular and our rules and our laws really have not kept pace with it," Governor Cuomo said. "There should be a basic level of knowledge that you have before you're given the permission to go out there and operate a boat, and making a safety course mandatory is common sense. It protects the operator of the boat and everyone that operator could come into contact with, and it will make our waters safer. It took a horrific accident to make this situation real for people, but through this law Brianna is saving lives and her love lives on."
The measure expands an earlier law signed by Governor Cuomo that requires boaters born after May 1, 1996 to complete a safety course before operating a motorized watercraft. Under the phase-in, all motor boat operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1993 must complete a safety course to operate a motor boat beginning in 2020. Those born after Jan. 1, 1988 must complete a safety course beginning in 2022. Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1983 must complete a safety course beginning in 2023. Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1978 must complete a safety course beginning in 2024. The requirement would extend to all motor boat operators beginning in 2025, regardless of age. Failure to comply could result in a fine of between $100 and $250 under the new law that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020.
You can read more about the law and the signing
here.
Here's a pic of Gina Lieneck, Brianna's mom, with Governor Cuomo
------------------------------
Stacey Brown | Boating Safety Program Manager | Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries | 804-308-6114 |
stacey.brown@dgif.virginia.gov------------------------------