As of Jan. 1, all boaters looking to operate a vessel must obtain a safety certificate, regardless of age. Additionally, there is no longer a 120-day grace period and all New York State boaters must have their certificate prior to driving a vessel.
The rules of the road are important in crash prevention, said Suffolk County Police Department Marine Bureau Lt. Donato Mignone. Most crashes, other than those involving alcohol, he said, can be prevented with the proper equipment and lighting. Also, one important aspect learned in class is simply who has the right of way.
Last year, he said, as the certificate restrictions continued to tighten, he did see a decrease in incidents on the water. Also, fatal crashes, other than those alcohol related, were reduced.
Most crashes, however, he said, happen at night.
“People operating a vessel might not be using radar or have the proper navigation lights. It’s dangerous and they might as well be driving through space,” he said, noting the safety courses go over such.
In addition to the new requirements, Mignone said, the SCPD will be patrolling and enforcing. He estimated the SCPD does at least 100 checks on people operating a boat vessel, with random inspections checking for certificates, proper equipment, life jackets and more.
The enactment came in stages over the last few years, most recently in 2024, with operators of all vessels required to obtain a certificate if born on or after Jan. 1, 1978.
Now, boating safety certificates are required for recreational boaters using motorized vessels, including personal watercraft. Operators of non-motorized boats, such as kayaks and canoes, are not required to have a boating safety certificate at this time.
“With more and more boaters heading out on the water, requiring them to take a safety course is a good idea,” said assemblyman Joe DeStefano. “We have to take a driver safety course to operate a motor vehicle, and we should have it for boating and personal watercraft. We’ve seen enough incidents on local waters to know this is something that has to happen.”
How to get a certificate? Complete an NYS-approved boating safety course and apply for a permanent boating safety certificate through the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
The course must be approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators and is a minimum of eight hours of classroom instruction. All courses teach the basics of boating and encourage common sense while sharing the water. People as young as 10 years of age can take the class; however, you must be at least 14 to operate a jet ski.
Penalties for driving without a certificate are determined by the court and could be up to $250 in NYS. New York will also accept other boating safety course certificates from other states.
Once obtained, all boaters must carry their certificate whenever operating a vessel. Drivers can also add an anchor icon to their driver’s license.
To find a qualified NYS boating safety course visit: https://www.register-ed.com/programs/new_york/252-new-york-safe-boating-course.
The Suffolk County Police Department Marine Bureau will be hosting a certificate class on Feb. 13 and 14 from 6-10 p.m. at The Suffolk County Police Academy in Brentwood. Spots are still open and should be reserved online.