With summer coming into town sometime soon, Newport, RI based admiralty attorney John Fulweiler addresses Rhode Island's mandatory boating safety certification program. It is interesting to note the law's applicability not only to youth but to anyone operating a personal watercraft like a jet ski or wave runner.

Rhode Island has a mandatory boating safety certification program. You are required to be certified through a state-approved boating safety program in order to operate a vessel on Rhode Island waters IF: (1) You were born after January 1, 1986, and the vessel you intend to operate has a motor larger than ten horsepower OR (2) You will be operating a personal watercraft (Jet Ski, wave runner, etc.). This applies to everyone operating a personal watercraft. There are NO age exemptions. You can learn more by visiting the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's website. ALWAYS take care to check the most current law to understand exactly what is required of you and do not rely on this blog post alone. The law changes and you need to be aware of the most current requirements.

To learn more about the law, you can (and should) visit the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's website by clicking HERE.

Underway and making way.

By John Fulweiler

[email protected]

www.saltwaterlaw.com