NYS boat license proposal...

[krenzermarine]

The wording is difficult in some areas because it was written by a lawyer from the Capital group (lobbiest for the Empire State Marine Trades Association) but it is a bill that would require all boaters in New York to get a driving certificate.

See your NYS Senator and or assembly man.

Tim Habecker

Krenzer Marine, Inc.

More information on the proposed legislation that requires ALL BOATERS TO BE LICENSED for operation. Long and short: contact your local assemblyman today if, if you oppose this bill (for reasons detailed below) let them know.

THIS IS AN URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT REGARDING S5889C GALEF, requires boating safety certificates of all persons operating a mechanically propelled vessel; provides for a phase in period and penalties for violations. This bill is on third reading in the Assembly and we need all the ESMTA RGIONs and their members to call their Assemblyman and tell them that you oppose this bill. We need all of you to make these calls immediately to your Assembly members. Each of your regional have spreadsheets that indicates the particular Assembly Member representing your marina.

PLEASE ACT NOW. The reasons for opposing this bill are outlined below:

The Empire State Marine Trades Association (ESMTA) strongly opposes this legislation which will require all boat operators born after January 1, 1992 to hold a boating safety certificate.

The ESMTA is a leader in promoting the safe and proper use of boats, marine accessories and related facilities. It is comprised of seven regional associations: Association of Marine Industries; New York Marine Trades Association; Hudson Valley Marine Trades Association; Eastern New York Marine Trades Association; Boating Industries Association; the Rochester Area Marine Trades Association and, the Marine Trades Association of Western New York. The ESMTA has over 400 members.

The ESMTA works closely with the State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation in order to insure the safety of boating in New York State. This is why New York continues to rank among the top among states that have the best boating safety records, and lowest accidents, injuries and fatalities rates from boating nationwide. This is true despite being among those states with the highest boat registrations per capita.

ESMTA has worked hard over the years to enact enhanced safety provisions for boating, particularly for young, inexperienced operators, which is reflected in the current statute that requires certain persons to hold a boater safety certificate in order to operate a boat or jet ski in New York.

This bill, however, requiring that all operators hold a certificate, regardless of age and whether an experienced adult is present, raises many issues for the marine industry. There is no evidence that what the bill proposes will improve boater safety. In fact, the added burden of this new requirement will only discourage boat ownership at a time when the economy has put tremendous pressure on new boat sales.

Further, this bill changes completely the well thought-out boater safety requirements that are currently on the books which maximize safety without unduly burdening boat owners or discourage entry into the activity of boating by young people.

Finally, it is doubtful that Parks and other agencies that conduct the boater safety courses will be able to effectively handle the number of those who will now need in all cases a certificate to operate a boat.

For these reasons, ESMTA urges the sponsors to hold this bill until the industry, boating groups and agencies charged with the bills implementation have time to review the impacts of this legislation on boater safety, the marine industry and the activity of boating in New York.