Bills Crack Down On Boaters

Three bills cracking down on careless or drunken boaters sailed through a House committee Wednesday.

The three measures, all proposed by the state Department of Parks and Recreation, are aimed at updating Idaho’s boating laws and making the state’s waters safer, said Mark Brandt, boating program supervisor for the department.

Idaho leads the 13 Western states in its number of privately owned boats. The state has more than 80,000 registered motor and sail boats, and nearly 100,000 non-powered boats.

“One out of every nine households in Idaho owns a boat,” said Brandt.

Unfortunately, Idaho also has one of the highest boat-related fatality rates in the nation.

Brandt said, “It’s three to four times the national average.”

“We want to bring the boating code up to par with the motor vehicle code,” said Brandt.

House Bill 3 calls for second-time violators of boating regulations to take a boating safety class in order to regain the right to use their boat. The bill also clarifies language to make it clear that water skiers can take off from a dock. Last year, legislation was passed that confused this issue and led to numerous fines.

House Bill 5 would increase fines for people under the influence of drugs or alcohol while operating a boat. The current fine of $300 and/or 30 days in jail would be raised to $1,000 dollars and/or six months in jail. The offender also would be required to take a boater safety class.

The bill also includes a zero tolerance provision for minors operating a boat under the influence of alcohol. That means they can’t legally drive a boat with any trace of alcohol in their system.

The committee unanimously approved both bills, sending them to the full House for consideration.

House Bill 8 would give marine law enforcement officers the authority to order boaters off the water if they try to elude officers, violate safety rules regarding life jackets or boat capacity, or are suspected of driving under the influence.

, DataTimes