Ch. 640

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Article - Natural Resources

Section 8-712.2 and 8-740

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1986 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Maryland has hundreds of miles of navigable water
and, 152,000 registered vessels, and boating is increasing to the
point that many rivers, bays, and creeks are congested; and

WHEREAS, Many boaters lack any formal instruction in the
safe use of boats, an understanding of the ebb and flow of tides,
the rules of the waterways, effects of alcohol, mooring, and an
awareness of a potential dangers, such as white waters , and
hypothermia, and an understanding of the importance and effect of
varying weather conditions; and

WHEREAS, Many boaters are subjected to needless dangers and
aggravation because of their own lack of knowledge or the
inexperience of their fellow boaters; and

WHEREAS, Each year accidents occur that are avoidable, boats
are damaged, people are injured, and lives are lost because
boaters are unaware of basic boating regulations and safety; and

WHEREAS, A basic boating course for all operators born after
July 1, 1972, would reduce the problems by assuring that our
younger generation would have a fundamental boating knowledge,
and this would, over a period of time, lead to a more educated
boating public; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

8-712.2.

(A) (1) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPHS (4) (3)
AND (5) (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION, ON OR AFTER JULY l, l988, A
PERSON BORN ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 1972 UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE MAY
NOT OPERATE ON THE WATERS OF THE STATE A VESSEL FOR PLEASURE THAT
IS REQUIRED TO BE NUMBERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE OR A
VESSEL FOR PLEASURE THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE NUMBERED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE FEDERAL BOAT SAFETY ACT OF 1971 WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING
A CERTIFICATE OF BOATING SAFETY EDUCATION.

(2) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPHS (4)
AND (5) OF THIS SUBSECTION, ANY PERSON WHO BECAME 16 YEARS OLD ON
OR AFTER JULY 1, 1988, MAY NOT OPERATE ON THE WATERS OF THE STATE
A VESSEL FOR PLEASURE THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE NUMBERED IN

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