Law enforcement officers want boaters licensed before they get behind the wheel

[Bwana]

A personal watercraft shooting out a rooster tail as it zipped across Lake Elsinore recently caught the eye of a couple of sheriff's deputies on patrol.

The rider whipped a 180-degree turn and suddenly was traveling against the flow of boat traffic. On a busier day, it could have been an accident waiting to happen.

For Riverside County sheriff's deputies Bill Young and Scott Larsen, watching from their patrol boat, it was a good example of the need for licensing requirements for boaters, much like the licenses automobile drivers must have.

Licenses would be a way to ensure that boaters know the rules of the water, the deputies said.

As it stands, all a person needs to do is buy or rent a boat to be able to drive it -- whether it be a large, high-powered ski craft or a small but agile personal watercraft.

"You can go out and buy a boat today and be on the water tomorrow without taking any kind of safety course," Young said. "There should be some kind of licensing requirement."

Licensing for boaters was proposed last year by the Recreational Boaters of California, a nonprofit organization that works to protect the interests of recreational boaters. The measure was approved by the Legislature but vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Gloria Sandoval, spokeswoman for the state Department of Boating and Waterways.

She cited the budget crisis as a factor in the governor's decision.

Law enforcement officers want boaters licensed before they get behind the wheel | San Bernardino County | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

[jason]

They way people drive on the street here, I am not sure how well it would work. But I am all for boating safety. I would not mind seeing a boating safety course that is mandatory, not sure how I feel about a license yet. I guess I could see it happening, but it could kill the rental business down here.

[Bushman]

I think it would be a good idea. Lots of people assume they know how pilot a water craft when they have no idea how.

They don't know what side of the buoy to be on, they don't know what the red and green lights on a boat are for all sorts of little things like that.

[firefly]

I don`t really see a need for a license, but a course with a certificate would be good. Ther are a lot of boaters here in Florida. I see some doing things that are just as dangerous as in a car. They see to think that being in open water means you can do anything you want. It is exciting to be driving out there, going fast, wide open water, no lanes like the road. But if you don`t know what your doing you could end up in real trouble.

[Christie]

Personally, I am surprised that there isn't more regulation as far as needing a license for a watercraft. But I also see Jason's point in that many businesses thrive renting out these crafts to people who really only want to go out once in a while and not actually own a boat themselves. I think there's just going to have to be more policing the waterways to keep idiots from hurting someone.