The Fla results

Posted by mike noeske on Sep 15, 2006

ON-MOTORIZED VESSEL REGISTRATION NOT RECOMMENDED

September 14, 2006 Contact: Willie Puz (850) 528-4428

A committee assigned to examine issues involving non-motorized vessels voted to recommend not requiring registration of non-motorized vessels when the state's Boating Advisory Council (BAC) meets in December. The recommendation passed by a 4-3 vote.

The Non-motorized Vessel Subcommittee will, however, recommend non-motorized vessel operators be included in Florida's boater education requirements. It also will recommend state-approved education courses strengthen their educational component for non-motorized vessels.

The BAC will review these recommendations and decide if a formal proposal to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is appropriate for future legislative action.

Non-motorized vessels include canoes, kayaks, rowboats, non-motorized sailboats and paddlecraft. They do not include "watertoys" such as air mattresses, inner tubes, float tubes, boogie boards, surf boards, beach rafts or other similar devices designed to be used by bathers at beaches, lakes or swimming pools.

Of Florida's 70 reported fatal boating accidents in 2005, 10 involved non-motorized vessels, which resulted in 12 of the 81 boating fatalities.

The Non-motorized Vessel Subcommittee was formed in December 2005, at the request of BAC chair FWC Col. Julie Jones, to address the stakeholder request for registering all vessels.

For more information on the Boating Advisory Council, go to MyFWC.com/law/council/index.html.

In Response to: kayak registration in Fla by craig on Sep 12, 2006

Replies:

• Re: The Fla results by Laszlo on Sep 15, 2006
  • Re: The Fla results by Jim E on Sep 16, 2006