New Law goes into effect July 1

[BassnCop]

Saw this in the Virginian Pilot.......

New Virginia law requires boaters to pass safety course

Virginia now has a law requiring boaters to pass a boating safety course to operate their vessels.

A bill passed in February by the General Assembly has been signed into law by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

The law goes into effect July 1 and will be phased in depending on operator age. All operators of personal watercraft and motorboats with more than 10-horsepower motors will be required to pass a certified course by 2016.

[Original TrickWorm]

Great Law but i would think a 3-4 year grace for everyone to get it done would be enough. Still got 9 possible years of JetSki and Ski boat lunatics

Cause none of us bassboats would ever drive excessively fast or in an unsafe manner

[jbradfishn]

so how long do you have if you're pushing 40?????

[hooknmtr20]

Here are the requirements on how the law will be phased in.

Q. I am age 45. When will I be required to have completed a safety course?

A. Here is the list of how the phase-in period works:

1. Personal watercraft (PWC) operators age 20 or younger must meet the requirement by July 1, 2009. PWC operators who are age 14 and 15 already are required to take a course.

2. PWC operators 35 or younger, July 1, 2010.

3. PWC operators 50 or younger, July 1, 2011.

4. All PWC operators, July 1, 2012.

5. Motorboat operators age 20 or younger, July 1, 2011.

6. Motorboat operators 30 and younger, July 1, 2012.

7. Motorboat operators 40 or younger, July 1, 2013.

8. Motorboat operators 45 or younger, July 1, 2014.

9. Motorboat operators 50 and younger, July 1, 2015

10. All motorboat operators, July 1, 2016.

[BassnCop]

don't know....been looking online for more info.....according to article there will be more details in Wednesday's Virginian Pilot....

http://www.pilotonline.com

[Original TrickWorm]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jbradfishn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so how long do you have if you're pushing 40?????</TD></TR></TABLE>

Which way you pushing up to it, or up over it??

[BassnCop]

I assume you can take the test online now.....

Is this an approved site to do that....

http://www.boat-ed.com/va/index.htm

[Blue Steel]

You mean we have until 2011 to take the test? absolute nonsense,enforce the law or get out of town

[hooknmtr20]

Here is what I found as far as what describes a qualifing course.

Q. Will I be able to take the course online?

A. Yes. The DGIF Web site, http://www.dgif.virginia.gov , lists seven online courses. Just make certain that what you take is approved by NASBLA.

[Lea]

Lucky me...I have 9 years to figure out how to pass this.

I wonder if they can factor in the fact that I have been boating since I was 6 yrs old (lived on an island in CT and had to know how to run motor boat!!). That means 62 years of zero issue experience!!!

...also know how to handle a sail boat with no motor...not good for bassn, but sure can get ya home..

Too bad there's no way for them to tell how much experience you REALLY have...maybe with boat registration history????

[BassnCop]

well....what we need to do is have a "test party"....

we can all take turns taking the test on one computer and combine all our knowledge together...that way we "might" have a chance of passing the first time!!

[FireBassr]

You guys and girls should be ashamed for not having already taken a boating safety course either in the classroom or online.

Here is a good one and approved in VA.
http://www.boatus.org/onlineco...e.htm

In some instances, it will get you a discount on your boat insurance as well. OK peeps, get to class.

[Deletenow]

Took it and got the certificate online printed.....easy test if you have been boating for a bit. Wasnt 100% but ill take a 96.......Next issue.....

[BassnCop]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FireBassr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You guys and girls should be ashamed for not having already taken a boating safety course either in the classroom or online.

Here is a good one and approved in VA.
http://www.boatus.org/onlineco...e.htm

In some instances, it will get you a discount on your boat insurance as well. OK peeps, get to class. </TD></TR></TABLE>


ok smart butt...I did already take that one when I had my Ranger.....I had my certificate saved...but when my insurance company told me they would not honor it....I deleted the certificate from my saved documents not thinking I would ever need it again...

[BassnCop]

I went on the boatus web site and put in my info and found my certificate.....took it on 4/13/2004 at 8:17:26 PM.....my certificate was still on file...got it!!!! And it's one of the courses that VGIF approves........


Modified by BassnCop at 10:08 PM 3/27/2007

[Wrangler 120]

The boat ed online course is the same one I took for SC & NC. Insurance company said they don't give discounts for saftey/education classes. Didn't learn anything other then it takes a long time online. Well atleast I got mine out of the way for when the other states follow.

[Deletenow]

Got my interest up and I called my insurance company which happens to be Progressive and they told me that in the state of Va. they do not offer a discount for the course. In other various states they do...........kinda crazy but anyway. Was told if you are a homeowner they do give a discount which was already applied. Stupid me but I dont understand the relation between owning a boat and a home.

[jbradfishn]

i'm still on my way there!!!!

[billybass]

I have my Safe Boater Course certificate from CT many years ago, do you all think that will count?

[Original TrickWorm]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jbradfishn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i'm still on my way there!!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just checking Geezer