Columnist Paula DelGiudice: New state laws mandate changes

Paula DelGiudice

Thursday, July 19, 2001 | 11:20 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears weekly. Reach her at desertdenizens@aol.com.

Changes are in store for boaters in Nevada. One will require boaters born on or after Jan. 1, 1983 to complete a boating education course before operating a boat on Nevada's interstate waters (such as lakes Mead, Mohave, Tahoe and Topaz near Gardnerville, plus the Colorado River from Davis Dam south to the California state line). Children under 12 must wear a life jacket when riding in a vessel that is under way, according to Nevada Division of Wildlife game warden Doug Nielsen.

These and other changes are mandated by Assembly bills 469 and 632, which were passed during the recent session of the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Officials of NDOW, the state's boating agency, believe that the changes are a significant improvement and will save many lives. "We anticipate a significant improvement in boating safety on waters throughout the state, especially through the mandatory education process," said Fred Messman, NDOW boating law administrator. "Some boaters may see this as an inconvenience, but the life saved as a result of this program could be their very own or that of someone they love."

According to Nielsen, Nevada joins 29 states that already require boater education for those who operate vessels on their waterways. That list includes the neighboring states of Idaho and Oregon. Arizona and California do not require boating education.

Currently approved courses include those taught by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadrons; the Navigating Nevada home study course; and Internet courses such as BOAT U.S.

In addition to outlining the requirements for boating education, the bill, which was sponsored by Assemblyman Bob Beers of Las Vegas, raises the age at which young people can begin operating personal watercraft from 12 to 14 years. The bill's provisions go into effect Jan. 1, 2003.

The legislation requiring that children younger than 12 wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket when a vessel is underway goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2001. The catalyst behind this bill was a group of 12th grade government students from Foothill High School in Henderson. Their idea for mandatory life jacket use was chosen as the winning entry in the Democracy in Action program, a public policy contest.