Senator Fuschillo: Governor Cuomo Should Sign Legislation to Strengthen New York’s Boating Safety Laws

     Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick) today urged Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign legislation he cosponsored which would strengthen New York’s boating safety laws by requiring individuals to obtain a boating safety certificate before operating a vessel.

     “This legislation is a step in the right direction that will improve safety for everyone on the water. Learning about basic safety procedures, navigation, and rules of the water before operating a powerful motor vehicle that can injure or kill someone is just commonsense. Governor Cuomo should sign this legislation to make our waterways safer,” said Senator Fuschillo, Chairman of the Senate’s Transportation Committee.

     The legislation (S1639A) would require anyone born on or after May 1, 1996 to have a boating safety certificate in order to operate a boat unsupervised.

     According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2012 Recreation Boating Statistics, of all operators involved in fatal boating crashes nationwide in 2012 where it could be determined whether they received boating safety training, 73 percent had no boating safety education.

     There were 875 boating accidents in New York State between 2008 and 2011, which resulted in 95 fatalities and 500 injuries, according to the New York State Office of Parks Recreation, and Historic Preservation’s 2011 Recreational Boating Report.