The New York State Assembly just passed Brianna’s Law saying you must take a boating safety course before driving a powerboat in the state’s navigable waters. The proposed legislation is named after Brianna Lieneck, who was 11 years old when she was killed in a boating accident on the south shore of Long Island in 2005.
So far, Brianna’s Law has only passed the State Assembly. It did not pass a Senate vote. It probably will not be brought up again in this session.
“While there is a lot one can learn from spending time on the waters and aboard vessels it is critical to strengthen that knowledge with formal instruction to avoid preventable tragedies,” said Kimberly Jean-Pierre, an Assembly member who co-sponsored the law.
Under the current law, anyone over the age of 22 (born before May 1, 1996) can drive a powerboat without any kind of license, certificate or training. But if you were born on or after May 1, 1996, you need to pass a state-approved course and get a boating safety certificate to drive one. And everyone, regardless of age, has to complete a Boating Safety Education Course to operate a PWC in state waters.
Brianna’s Law says that everyone, regardless of age or the length of time they have owned a boat, must complete a state-approved boating course, with training on rules of the road, boat handling, navigation and basic safety. There are 450,000 registered powerboats in New York State; officials estimate that only about one-third of their owners have taken a boating safety course.
Brianna Lieneck was riding in a 24-foot Bayliner with her family on a summer evening in Great South Bay when it was hit by a 25-foot Grady-White. She was killed, and her mother, father and sister were seriously injured. Read more:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/Press/files/20180620.php
