The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office navigation division might be teaching more people during its boater safety course next year because of a new law requiring all boat operators to have received certification from an approved agency. P-J file photo

A new state law passed in June will require all boat operators to take a safety course.

The new regulation is titled “Brianna’s Law,” which is named after Brianna Lieneck, an 11-year-old girl who was fatally injured in a boating collision off the coast of Long Island. Brianna’s Law would require any individual who operates a mechanically propelled vessel in state navigable waters to complete a boating safety course approved by the commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. There is a five-year phase-in to allow boat operators adequate time to comply with the new requirement.

The prior law had only required safety courses for those born after May 1, 1996.

How will the new law impact the boater safety course taught by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office?

Sgt. Glenn Giles, Sheriff’s Office navigation division, said Sheriff’s Office personnel will determine how many boater safety classes they will host next year dependent on how many people sign-up.

“We will continue to offer courses, as in years past, and as the Sheriff’s Office has numerous deputies that are certified boater’s safety instructors, if there is a higher demand the Sheriff’s Office will add additional courses,” he said.

The Sheriff’s Office currently holds three courses, which take place over eight hours in one day, Giles said. The classes usually are offered in May and June on Saturday mornings before the boating season begins.

“Boater safety courses are also taught by some of the local marinas for a fee throughout the summer,” he said.

Giles said people learn basic boating skills necessary for safe and enjoyable boating, instill a sense of responsibility when operating a boat, develop an understanding of the consequences of careless boating, encourage common sense and courtesy towards other waterway users and educate students on our local laws and waterways. At the end of the course, participants have to pass an exam to receive certification.

The boater safety course is also offered online at boatus.org/newyork. Giles said the Sheriff’s Office suggests that any new boater taking the class take the classroom course as there is better hands-on instruction by trained instructors. The in-person class also allows for questions to be asked and answered.

“The course is one day of instruction and can be completed by the whole family at one time,” he said. “(The) Sheriff’s Office courses are free for students under 18, over 18 a $10 fee is paid to (New York state).”

Prior to the new law, Giles said the number of participants in each class varied and has been declining due to the state accepting online courses in 2015.

“Lately, there have been 10-30 students per class,” he said. “The Sheriff’s Office teaches the course with two deputies present allowing us to teach the course (for) up to 60 students.”

Giles believes the new law will increase the number of people taking the course because everyone operating a boat will be required to have the boater’s safety course certification.

“This new law will eliminate the grandfathering of older people and will culminate in everyone needed the safe boater certificate by 2025,” he said.

Giles said after the five-year phase-in, anyone not certified will be in violation of the law and will be a fine.

“This law is simply changing the age for which a safety certificate is needed by phasing it in over the next five years, which will ultimately lead to everyone needing the safety certificate regardless of age by 2025,” he said. “The Sheriff’s Office patrols the waterways of Chautauqua County including Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, Findley Lake and Cassadaga Lakes.”

In New York, there are approximately 450,000 registered motorized boats.