A publication of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
I remember my dad’s cousin Paul as an incredibly fun and light-hearted individual, the type of guy who wouldn’t hesitate to hang my nine-year old giggly self from my ankles, upside down, and sway me back and forth. Juxtaposed against this fond memory is the great sadness that my family faced when we learned he […]
Boating under the influence (BUI) of alcohol or dangerous drugs – yes, it’s still dangerous and still against the law. Let’s review applicable federal laws and regulations. The law is found in 46 USC 2302(c) along with negligent operation (2302(a), and grossly negligent operation 2302(b). 2302(c) states that an individual who is under the influence […]
Every year the United States averages more than 4,000 reported recreational boating accidents. Among these are groundings, collisions, fires, explosions, and the classic “operator error.” One thing these reportable boating accidents have in common is this: They all require a report to the U.S. Coast Guard and some degree of investigation. The Coast Guard provides […]
The world in which we live is constantly changing, and recreational boating is changing right along with it. When it comes to enforcing the recreational boating laws, officers have to keep up with the changes while at the same time never losing sight of the fundamentals and guiding principles of the job. Checking boating safety […]
I have written articles concerning the effectiveness of online learning versus the traditional classroom boating safety courses, and that debate continues regarding which of those two methods of delivery is most effective for the student. While the jury may still be out on that question, one recent prediction has recently occurred: Online/Internet-based boating safety courses […]
For more than two millennia, since before Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War, folks have been planning strategically. While some things haven’t changed, to fight the war on preventable casualties on recreational vessels, we’ve evolved and employ modern guidance for developing strategic plans. Here are the main three tools the federal government has employed […]
Workers check out damage to the Staten Island Ferry boat Andrew J. Barberi, which crashed in 2003. The incident highlighted the potential dangers on the water from drug-impaired boaters as post-accident toxicology results revealed levels of a prescription narcotic pain reliever in the captain’s blood stream. As we begin the summer boating season, the maritime […]
It is an encouraging sign of the times when more stringent laws are enacted to help curtail the use of alcohol while recreating on the water. On January 1, 2015, Indiana and Michigan began enforcing new laws regarding Boating Under the Influence (BUI) legislation and Florida is looking at some proposed legislation along the same […]
