Mass.’s new boating law is in effect. Here’s what to know.

Local News

Boaters must complete a safety course or risk fines.

A boat glides past a rocky outcrop off Mingo Beach, in Beverly, Mass., Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

A new statewide boating safety law is now in effect in Massachusetts, requiring motorboat operators to complete a safety course and carry proof of certification while on the water.

The Hanson-Milone Boater Safety Act applies to anyone operating recreational motorboats and personal watercraft, like jet skis. As of April 1, boaters born after Jan. 1, 1989, must complete a state-approved safety course and obtain a certificate to legally operate a motorboat. They are also required to keep that certificate on board.

Boaters born on or before Jan. 1, 1989, have more time — until April 1, 2028 — to complete the safety training, according to state officials.

According to State Rep. Kathy LaNatra, who sponsored the bill, the law is named after David Hanson and Paul Milone. Hanson was 20 years old when he was killed in a boating accident in 2010 off the coast of Plymouth. Milone, a late harbormaster, was passionate about boater safety and advocated for safety legislation.

In a social media post in January, LaNatra said the legislation “creates a straightforward program to ensure that anyone operating a boat in the Commonwealth has the necessary safety knowledge to keep themselves and others safe.”

Harbormaster Chad Hunter told WCVB the courses, which are available in-person or online, cover the basics of trailering, registering a vessel, safe boating operations, and other basic rules.

“I always tell people… if there’s one thing you take out of this course, have a life jacket, wear your life jacket,” Hunter told the outlet.

Once boaters obtain their certification, it is valid for life unless revoked.

Massachusetts Environmental Police will begin enforcing the law in September. Those who don’t adhere to the law could be fined $50 for a first offense and $100 for subsequent offenses.

Boaters interested in signing up for an approved safety course can do so at mass.gov.

Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.

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