Spring is here! The sun is shining, the water is blue, and dots of boats are starting to appear on our beautiful waterways. With Otsego County boasting nearly 2,436 registered vessels in 2024, boaters are likely to have company out on the water.
Before you head out on your powerboat this season, be sure to take a Boating Safety Certificate Course. This year, 2025, all powerboat operators must have the boating safety certificate on their person while driving the craft. Failure to comply can result in a fine of $100 to $250.
Brianna’s Law, which was enacted in 2005 after a boating accident killed an 11-year-old Long Island girl, phased in the boating safety certificate requirements. The five-year phase in began in 2020, which permitted older powerboat operators (presumably with more experience) to opt out for the first few years.
While phase-ins are helpful for people to get ready for the new rules, they do lead to misunderstandings. If you have not gotten your boating safety certificate because you were exempt in prior years, you no longer are, and you need to complete the course. If you completed the course in the past, you can use that certificate to satisfy this requirement only if you have a copy of the certificate on your person. If you’ve lost your certificate, you can request additional certificates at ilostmycard.com or by emailing boating@parks.ny.gov, but be aware that the state does not have complete records prior to 2000 and you may be required to take the course again.
This rule does not apply to operators of sailboats, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, rowboats or canoes, but the boating safety certificate course provides essential waterway rules and safety information that all watercraft operators could benefit from.
We became a boating family just last year, so I signed up for the boating safety certificate course recently. I opted for the online interactive course (as I tend to be tied to my desk) and was treated to a fun, choose-your-own-adventure-style course that resembled a video game. I would highly recommend this method, especially if you have children who will need the certificate (children as young as 10 years old may take the course), as it was entertaining and easy to learn from, with the variety of examples and scenarios you encounter. If I ever got tired of the plot line of the mystery-adventure, I could easily click “enough talk” and move forward to the next safety topic.
The statistics seem to show that Brianna’s Law has improved safety on the waterways and decreased fatalities. In 2024, New York had the fewest number of total reported fatalities in recorded history. Of the 9 fatalities reported, 6 victims were not wearing life jackets. Four were operating a non-motorized watercraft at the time. In 2024, Otsego County had only one reported accident, on Otsego Lake, and no reported injuries or fatalities. Let’s continue that streak by being sure to wear life jackets and keeping personal flotation devices at the ready.
The state Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation administers the law, ensuring that New Yorkers have access to sufficient safety courses and provides in-person courses. Check out their website to find a course: https://parks.ny.gov/boating/education.aspx
Also, once you complete the boating safety certificate course, you can apply for an “adventure license” with the state DMV, which will place an anchor icon on your driver’s license. If you haven’t updated to your REAL ID yet, complete the boating safety certificate course first and it will be automatically added when you renew or upgrade.
Wishing you safe adventures on the water!