Drive a boat? You will need a license
By Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle
A new era is at hand for boating in California. Most call it the “Boater Driver’s License.” Its official name is the California Vessel Operator Card (CVOC).
The Division of Boating and Waterways sent out its annual two-year registration certificates this month to the state’s 820,000 registered boat owners. It included a flyer on how the CVOC will be implemented.
Anybody who takes the wheel of a powerboat will be required to pass a safety course and written test, somewhat similar to how a special license certification is required to drive a motorcycle or a commercial truck.
Those with non-motorized boats, such as kayaks, canoes, rafts or drift boats, are not required to go through the program. But if you’re on a friend’s boat and you’re asked to take the wheel for a moment, you then would need the boater’s card.
About time.
A blatant money grab. If I own a boat which is not registered in California and used at Lake Tahoe I don’t need this. If I choose to register the boat in California I have to pay more money.
Mo money mo money mo money mo money.
Q: Who will be exempt from the having an operator card?
A: Per the language included in SB 941, the following persons will not be required to have a CVOC to operate a motorized vessel on California waterways when the requirements go into effect beginning in January 2018:
A person who is a resident of a state other than California who is temporarily operating a vessel in California for less than 60 days and meets the boating requirements, if any of his/her state.
A person who is a resident of a country other than the United States who is temporarily operating a vessel in California for less than 90 days and meets the boating requirements, if any of his/her country.
A person operating a vessel while under the direct supervision of a person 18 years of age or older who is in possession of a CVOC issued by DBW.
A person operating a vessel in an organized regatta or vessel race, or water ski race.
A person operating a rental vessel.
A person who is in possession of a current commercial fishing license.
A person who is in possession of a valid marine operator license, for the waters upon which the licensee is operating, issued by the United State Coast Guard, or who is in possession of a valid certificate issued pursuant to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended.
A person who has successfully completed a boating course approved by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
#5 is concerning
Thanks for the additional information, eljefe. My concern is minors. For many decades, we have carefully trained young family members to safely operate a boat, starting when they are children with us sitting right beside them. They constantly hear “A boat is not a toy. You must be aware of your surroundings at all times. See that boat off to your right? It has right of way, etc.” Given the temperament of teens I’d rather have a 16-year-old with 8 years practice driving the boat than a newbie.
More BS.
My 14 year old son who has been driving a boat his whole life is 100x’s more well versed in Tahoe weather safety and qualified to drive a boat than all the tourists handed a boat rental. A person from out of this country is exempt.? Those are the scary people out there. When I see those red boat rentals I stay the heck away from them. This rule is ridiculous…..
HUH?
Dub…I feel exactly the same way about ‘flat’ landers up here driving in the mountains, driving too slow, crossing yellow lines on the curves etc etc…they have NO experience driving in the mountains….Difficult to avoid all those rental cars!! Damned tourists!!! They should be kept off the Lake and the roads!!!!
This is not going to solve or prevent any accidents. The vast majority of the boats on the Lake that do not follow boating rules and safety are rental boats. This law exempts them. Of course there are plenty of crazies and drunks as well. What about boats from NV? Who is going to enforce this? Seems the police boats and coast guard have enough to do now. What are we going to do set up check points exiting Emerald Bay for DUI’s next? WA has a testing requirement for under 25. I think that is sufficient.
Once again, Cali-Lib will impose another TAX on it’s people. I’ve seen those red rentals from Camp Rich speeding in Emerald Bay many times. Tourists have little clue….on just about every level.
Yeah, government licensing ensures that everybody who has one is totally accomplished. . . not.
It’s just another revenue source, front end AND back. Wait till they start ticketing people for not being licensed.
Who ok’d Boating and Waterways to do this? Was it Brown or our Senate or Congress. Been on this lake over 40 years and the rental boats are the ones who do not know the rules, now they are exempt. Tired of bonehead legislators!
Just called Boating and Waterways and they have no idea of cost or how long you will sit in a classroom to get certified.
This has the senile old goat in Sac written all over it. Once again Cali-lib remains the poster child for idiocy.
Finger pointers out in full force!
CHEERS!
Bats usual, predictable response.
I’ll pop a fine cork for that. Cheers
‘Yeah, government licensing ensures that everybody who has one is totally accomplished’
How to use a ‘straw-dog’ logical fallacy:
Step 1: Create imaginary person
Step 2: Attribute exaggerated ideas to imaginary person
Step 3: Criticize the imaginary persons imaginary ideas as ridiculous.
Step 4: Congratulate yourself, you are more reasonable than the imaginary person.
… or are you?