NEWS RELEASE
PUBLIC
INFORMATION SECTION, P.O. Box 1368, Jefferson City, MO 65102
| For further information contact: | Sergeant
Paul E. Kennedy, Director Public Information & Safety Education Phone: (573)-751-3333 Fax: (573)-522-1287 E-mail: pkennedy@mswp.state.mo.us |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mandatory Education Bill Signed by Gov. Holden
Jefferson City - Boating safety took a big step forward Thursday, June 26th , 2003 when Governor Bob Holden signed into law Senate Bill 1. The new law mandates that operators of vessels on the lakes of the state born after January 1, 1984 must take a boating safety education course that is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). It further requires boaters of any age convicted of certain offenses such as Boating While Intoxicated and Reckless and Negligent operation to take a course and not operate a vessel until the course is passed and recorded with the Water Patrol.
Operators that fall under the requirements will have to carry onboard a card issued by the Water Patrol proving they have met the requirements of the law. This law goes into effect January 1st, 2005. There are several methods in which an operator can take the approved courses. The following is a list of those methods.
Order an online course, click
here and follow
the tabs.
Call 1-800-830-2268 to order a home study course.
Take an approved course from another state.
Take a NASBLA approved U.S. Coast Guard or U.S. Power Squadron course.
Take an in-class course taught by Water Patrol Officers given in
the Fall, Winter or Spring.
Colonel Jerry Adams, Commissioner of the Missouri State Water Patrol, recommends that all boat operators regardless of age take a boating safety course.
Click here to view the actual bill language.
