Life Jacket Law for Children Under 12
New York State law requires children under 12 years of age to wear a Type I or Type II life jacket when on board any vessel less than forty feet when underway, and a Type I, II, or III when on vessels 40 feet to 65 feet when underway. The law does not apply when children under 12 are within an enclosed cabin.
Type I life jackets are for off-shore use. They turn an unconcious person face-up in the water. Type II jackets are for near shore use. They are yolk-style and are also designed to turn an unconcious person face-up in the water. Type III jackets are vest-style. They are the most popular and comfortable life jackets in use today for children. They are designed for calm waters use where quick rescue is likely. They will NOT turn an unconcious person face-up.
Boat Safely - Wear your Life Jacket
YOU MUST...
Wear a U.S. Coast
Guard approved jacket.
Carry a U.S. Coast Guard approved visual distress signal.
Carry a sound signaling device.
Use a lanyard type cut-off switch, if supplied.
YOU MAY NOT...
Operate in excess
of 5 m.p.h. within 100 feet of shore, a dock, float or anchored
boat.
Operate within 500 feet of a marked swim area
Operate between sunset and sunrise
Operate in a reckless manner, including:
Wake jumping
Playing "Chicken"
Weaving through traffic
MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR PERSONAL WATERCRAFT OPERATORS
Individuals between
the ages of 14 and 18 are required
to complete an approved Boating Safety course in order
to operate either a boat or a personal watercraft.
Personal
Watercraft - Minimum Age of Operation
On January 1, 2006, a new law amending Section 49, Subdivision
1-a of the Navigation Law raising the minimum age of operators
of personal watercraft (PWC) to fourteen (14) went into effect.
However, in order to minimize the impact on riders currently under
the age of fourteen (14) certain allowances have been granted
to phase in this new law.
Until
January 1, 2009, those operators age ten (10) through thirteen
(13) that have a boating safety certificate may continue to operate
a PWC if they are accompanied by:
someone over 18 years of age and
within 500 feet on another personal watercraft or vessel and
within sight of the personal watercraft and
holding a safety certificate of their own.
A Boating Safety Certificate is a certificate issued by the Commissioner,
the United States Power Squadron, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary,
or in the case of a non-resident his/her home state or country,
as a result of completing a boating safety course.
This
law only affects the operation of PWC's. Anyone over the age of
ten (10) that holds a boating safety certificate can still operate
a motor boat alone.
|
Beginning on and after: |
and before: |
Mandatory Boating Education is required of Personal Watercraft Operators born on or after: |
| January 1, 2000 | January 1, 2001 | January 1, 1981 |
| January 1, 2001 | January 1, 2002 | January 1, 1978 |
| January 1, 2002 | January 1, 2003 | January 1, 1975 |
| January 1, 2003 | January 1, 2004 | January 1, 1972 |
| January 1, 2004 |
Mandatory education
required |
|
Water skiing during the period
from sunset to sunrise is prohibited
Revised 4 September 2008