Brianna’s Law & Boating Safety

If you’ve just joined the world of boating,  you know that safety is an important consideration when operating your craft. You may not have heard of Brianna’s Law, but if you’re boating in New York State, it is imperative and a requirement for operating your boat.

Brianna’s Law, which was signed into law on August 6, 2019, was named after Brianna Lieneck, a Long Island girl who was killed in 2005 in a boating accident. The law sets forth requirements that ensure all operators of motorized watercraft – be they powerboat or jetski – complete boating safety courses approved by the state. The certifications vary by age and craft, be ensures a basic level of knowledge of all boaters to ensure safer conditions on the water.

Jetski/Personal Water Craft (PWC) Operators: Current requirements are that all PWC/Jetski Operators MUST be certified regardless of age.

Powerboat Operators:

Brianna’s Law sets forth the following requirements

~Those born on or after 5/1/1996 currently need a safety certificate

~Those born on or after 1/1/1993 need a safety certificate beginning January 2020.

~Those born on or after 1/1/1988 need a safety certificate beginning January 2022.

~Those born on or after 1/1/1983 need a safety certificate beginning January 2023.

~Those born on or after 1/1/1978 need a safety certificate beginning January 2024.

~All powerboat operators regardless of age will need a boating safety certificate beginning in January 2025.

For those who have taken an 8 hour boating safety course in the past, these requirements don’t apply. For those who still need to participate in a certification course, all NYS courses offered and listed here are NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation courses and allow boaters to have an anchor endorsement on their NYS Drivers License in addition to receiving a boater safety certificate.