Comprehensive Boating Educational Programs; Required Completion; Exception

  1. Law
  2. Georgia Code
  3. Waters of the State, Ports, and Watercraft
  4. Registration, Operation, and Sale of Watercraft
  5. General Provisions
  6. Comprehensive Boating Educational Programs; Required Completion; Exception

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  1. The department shall establish a comprehensive boating education program and may seek the cooperation of boatmen, the federal government, and other states. The department may accept moneys made available under federal safety programs and may issue boating certificates to persons who complete courses in boating education.
  2. Effective July 1, 2014, and except as otherwise provided by this chapter, anyone born on or after January 1, 1998, who operates any motorized vessel on the waters of this state shall complete a boating education course approved by the department prior to the operation of such vessel.
  3. A person shall be exempt from the provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section if he or she is:
    1. Licensed by the United States Coast Guard as a master of a vessel;
    2. Operating such vessel on a private lake or pond; or
    3. A nonresident who has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators approved boater education course or the equivalency from another state.

(Ga. L. 1973, p. 1427, § 1; Ga. L. 2013, p. 92, § 11/SB 136.)

The 2013 amendment, effective May 15, 2013, designated the existing provisions as subsection (a); substituted the present provisions of subsection (a) for the former provisions, which read: "The department is authorized to inaugurate a comprehensive boating safety and boating education program and to seek the cooperation of boatmen, the federal government, and other states. The department may accept moneys made available under federal safety programs and may issue safety certificates to persons who complete courses in boating safety education."; and added subsections (b) and (c). See Editor's notes for applicability.

Editor's notes.

- Ga. L. 2013, p. 92, § 1/SB 136, not codified by the General Assembly, provides, in part, that Sections 5, 6, and 11 of this Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Kile Glover Boat Education Law".

Ga. L. 2013, p. 92, § 14/SB 136, not codified by the General Assembly, provides, in part, that the amendment of this Code section by that Act shall apply to all offenses occurring on and after May 15, 2013; provided, however, that for purposes of determining the number of prior convictions or pleas of nolo contendere pursuant to the felony provisions of paragraph (4) of subsection (m) of Code Section 52-7-12, only those offenses for which a conviction or a plea of nolo contendere is obtained on or after May 15, 2013, shall be considered.


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