New bills recently signed by Gov. Gray Davis are designed to improve safety on California's waterways and
are to go into force on 01/01/2001. A bill sponsored by the Department of Boating and Waterways raises the
age limit at which children are required to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) while under way in a vessel of
7.9 meters (approximately 26') or less from 6 to 11 years. Water skiers and personal watercraft (PWC) users
will also have to wear PFDs. Another bill, sponsored by the Recreational Boaters of California, requires anyone
convicted of a moving violation while operating a vessel to complete a boating safety course. The bill will also
require the Department of Boating and Waterways to develop a voluntary PWC education course and place
it on the department's Web site. In signing the bills, Davis said that he continues to oppose a general requirement
that all persons operating a boat take a mandatory course, but the measure contains reasonable requirements that
promote boating safety. "US Coast Guard data show that personal watercraft are involved in a disproportionately
high number of boating accidents in California," said Davis. "National Transportation Safety Board data show
that a large portion of individuals involved in fatal boating accidents were operating vessels in an unsafe manner."