Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education

Los Angeles -- The Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating)
yesterday hosted the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss
potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators.

The second meeting, which will build on information gathered in Los
Angeles, is scheduled for August 17 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room,
700 16th Street, Sacramento.

"There is no question that California's boating accidents and
fatalities are too high. That's a problem for anyone who cares about
boating and about public safety," said Cal Boating Director Raynor
Tsuneyoshi in his opening statement. "The question we hope to answer
today is: Should the State of California require boaters to receive
boating safety training in order to operate a motorized vessel?"

The all-day workshop had 38 participants including boaters,
representatives of boating interest groups, government agencies,
boating accident victims, safety advocates and educators, marina
operators, and boating law enforcement personnel. "The cooperation of
so many different interests is incredibly valuable in effectively
addressing what we all know is a problem," Tsuneyoshi said.

Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in
recent years and 42 states now require some type of certification. The
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force
behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education. Mandatory
boat operator education is on the NTSB's list of "Most Wanted
Transportation Safety Improvements" for 2006.

Bill Gossard, National Recreational Boating Program Manager and Senior
Transportation Safety Advocate for the NTSB, spoke to the group about
how mandatory education is working in other states. "If California is
on board with mandatory boating education, a projected decrease in
fatalities is expected at 10 to 15 percent, saving between six and ten
people a year," he said. "California needs to join the states that have
taken this important step toward reducing recreational boating
accidents and fatalities."

"Recreational Boaters of California appreciates the effort that DBW is
making to bring together all of the stakeholders for a comprehensive
and productive discussion of actions that can be taken to enhance
boater safety and education," said Jerry Desmond, Jr., Director of
Government Relations for Recreational Boaters of California.

Harry Monihan, government relations director for the Southern
California Marine Association, a boating industry group, spoke about
the group's historical opposition to mandatory boater education. "We've
always taken the position that you can't legislate good judgment, but
now we are becoming more flexible because our members and customers are
being subjected to risks of uneducated boaters on the water," Monihan
said.

More than one participant spoke from experience in describing the
damaging affects of boating accidents. Pam Rudy spoke of her son Kyle
who was killed last year when a rented pontoon boat he was vacationing
on ran over him. She attended the meeting to express her belief that
there is an urgent need for mandatory boater education in California.
"I believe that education is urgent and necessary. California needs to
do this now," she said.

A boater education law passed the California Legislature in 1999 but
was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis. At the time, Chris Brewster was
Lifeguard Chief for the City of San Diego, which sponsored the bill. He
is currently President of the United States Lifesaving Association.

Brewster began his remarks by apologizing to the victims present. "If
we had been able to get that legislation passed in 1999, many of the
injuries and deaths described today probably wouldn't have happened,"
he said. "Each day that we don't have mandatory boater education, we
are responsible for more tragedies. We must find a way to come to
consensus and move this forward."

The morning was spent reviewing and discussing material about accident
statistics and existing boating education laws nationwide. Throughout
the afternoon, participants had an opportunity to share their concerns
and help outline the specific issues that need to be addressed in any
proposed legislation. "The variations on structuring a boating
education law include age, type of vessel, reciprocity with other
states, penalties, administration, and dozens of others. Each detail is
important to someone," Tsuneyoshi said.

In an informal poll of the meeting participants indicated nearly 80
percent conceptual support of pursuing a mandatory boater education law
in California. "Now we have to find a way to satisfy objections that
are related to structure and process, and we have to determine who
might sponsor such legislation," Tsuneyoshi said.

The next meeting will focus on discussing the various options and
developing a framework for a law, although no group has come forward to
lead the process yet. "We have been clear that any boater education
legislation has to come from the boating community," said David
Johnson, deputy director of Cal Boating. "The department can lead the
discussion, facilitate consensus and provide technical assistance to
any group that wants to sponsor mandatory boat operator education
legislation, but Cal Boating can't be the sponsor of the legislation."

The Department of Boating and Waterways promotes on-the-water safety
and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through
programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars
and boating facility construction loan payments.

- 30 -

If it's your boat, it's your responsibility. Take a boating safety
course.