1998 Florida Code
TITLE XXIV VESSELS
Chapter 327 Vessels: Registration And Safety  
327.395   Boating safety identification cards.

327.395  Boating safety identification cards.--

(1)  Until October 1, 2001, a person born after September 30, 1980, and on or after October 1, 2001, a person 21 years of age or younger may not operate a vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater unless such person has in his or her possession aboard the vessel photographic identification and a boater safety identification card issued by the department which shows that he or she has:

(a)  Completed a department-approved boater education course that meets the minimum 8-hour instruction requirement established by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators;

(b)  Passed a course equivalency examination approved by the department; or

(c)  Passed a temporary certificate examination developed or approved by the department.

(2)  Any person may obtain a boater safety identification card by complying with the requirements of this section.

(3)  The department may appoint liveries, marinas, or other persons as its agents to administer the course, course equivalency examination, or temporary certificate examination and issue identification cards under guidelines established by the department. An agent must charge the $2 examination fee, which must be forwarded to the department with proof of passage of the examination and may charge and keep a $1 service fee.

(4)  An identification card issued to a person who has completed a boating education course or a course equivalency examination is valid for life. A card issued to a person who has passed a temporary certification examination is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

(5)  A person is exempt from subsection (1) if he or she:

(a)  Is licensed by the United States Coast Guard to serve as master of a vessel.

(b)  Operates a vessel only on a private lake or pond.

(c)  Is accompanied in the vessel by a person who is exempt from this section or who holds an identification card in compliance with this section, is 18 years of age or older, and is attendant to the operation of the vessel and responsible for any violation that occurs during the operation.

(d)  Is a nonresident who has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a boater education course or equivalency examination in another state which meets or exceeds the requirements of subsection (1).

(e)  Is exempted by rule of the department.

(6)  A person who violates this section is guilty of a noncriminal infraction, punishable as provided in s. 327.73.

(7)  The department shall design forms and adopt rules to administer this section. Such rules shall include provision for educational and other public and private entities to offer the course and administer examinations.

(8)  The department shall institute and coordinate a statewide program of boating safety instruction and certification to ensure that boating courses and examinations are available in each county of the state.

(9)  The department is authorized to establish and to collect a $2 examination fee to cover administrative costs.

History.--s. 1, ch. 96-187.