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New legislation prompts more outdoors education
New legislation prompts more outdoors education
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Copyright 2012 HOUSTON CHRONICLE. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 11:33 p.m., Sunday, January 15, 2012
A pair of recent changes in Texas boating laws mean increasing numbers of the state's million-plus recreational boaters will be required to take an approved boater education course while fewer will fall under a legal mandate to report boating-related accidents. Under changes adopted by the Texas Legislature during its 2011 session, persons born on or after Sept. 1, 1993, and operating a personal watercraft, a boat powered by a motor of more than 15-horsepower or a wind-blown vessel measuring more than 14 feet must have passed a state-approved boater education course and carry identification and proof of having passed the boater education course while operating those boats. [...] the Legislature modified requirements for reporting boating accidents, upping from $500 to $2,000 the minimum property damage, triggering mandatory reporting and making it easier for boat operators involved in an accident to report the incident. Texas law has long required a boat operator involved in an accident resulting in a death, physical injury that requires medical treatment beyond first aid or $500 or more in damage to the boat or other property to complete an accident report within 30 days of the incident and submit that report to TPWD. A change in the law governing this reporting may help this situation, resulting in a higher rate of reporting of boating accidents which will give boating safety officials a better understanding of what causes accidents, which type of accidents are the most common and how they might be prevented.
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HOUSTON CHRONICLE
A pair of recent changes in Texas boating laws mean increasing numbers of the state's million-plus recreational boaters will be required to take an approved boater education course while fewer will fall under a legal mandate to report boating-related accidents. Under changes adopted by the Texas Legislature during its 2011 session, persons born on or after Sept. 1, 1993, and operating a personal watercraft, a boat powered by a motor of more than 15-horsepower or a wind-blown vessel measuring more than 14 feet must have passed a state-approved boater education course and carry identification and proof of having passed the boater education course while operating those boats. [...] the Legislature modified requirements for reporting boating accidents, upping from $500 to $2,000 the minimum property damage, triggering mandatory reporting and making it easier for boat operators involved in an accident to report the incident. Texas law has long required a boat operator involved in an accident resulting in a death, physical injury that requires medical treatment beyond first aid or $500 or more in damage to the boat or other property to complete an accident report within 30 days of the incident and submit that report to TPWD. A change in the law governing this reporting may help this situation, resulting in a higher rate of reporting of boating accidents which will give boating safety officials a better understanding of what causes accidents, which type of accidents are the most common and how they might be prevented.
More...