Question Show Data Commercial Vessels Does your state/territory regulate commercial vessels on sole state waters? Yes Other, please specify If you answered yes to the previous question, is your agency responsible for enforcing regulations on commercial vessels on sole state waters? Yes Other, please specify If you answered "No" to the previous question, which state agency is responsible? White Water Does your state regulate vessel operation in white water areas? Yes Other, please specify Does your state regulate commercial white water operations? Yes Other, please specify Search & Rescue Does your agency have a dive team? Other, please specify Other, please specify MA State Police What agency is responsible for Search and Rescue operations? MA State Police/MA Environmental Police/ local public safety depts. What agency is responsible for victim recovery? sane as above (#8) Boating Education Requirements Does your state require mandatory boating safety education for some segment of the population? Yes Who is required to complete a boating education course in your state? Any person of at least 12 years of age and less than 16 yoa, operating a motorboat without adult supervision. PWC users 16 and 17 years of age. (PWC's cannot be operated by youth less than 16 yoa). Are only residents of your state required to complete a boating education course? No Other, please specify Education Exemptions Are non-residents exempt from having to take a boating education course in your state? Other, please specify Other, please specify Yes, if they've taken a Nasbla course elsewhere. Are U.S. Coast Guard licensed operators exempt from having to take a boating education course in your state? No Other, please specify Are any other persons exempt from having to take a boating education course in your state? Please list. Exams and License/Certificate Issuance Is issuance of a license/certificate dependant upon passing an exam in your state? Yes Other, please specify If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the passing score in your state? 70% Providers of Education Courses State Agency X US Coast Guard Auxiliary X US Power Squadrons X Public School System X Private Company X Other, please specify yacht clubs & boating assn.'s Minors, Powerboats Personal Watercraft Does your state require an adult to be on board when a minor is operating a motor-powered vessel other than a PWC? Other, please specify Other, please specify MInors under 16 yoa, prohibited from operating. Does your state require an adult to be on board when a minor is operating a PWC? Other, please specify Minimum Ages for Education Certification Does your state certify minor boaters? Other, please specify What is the minimum age someone can be certified in your state? Does your state have reciprocity for accepting out of state certification of minor boaters if the certification course meets NASBLA's Education Standards? Mandatory Boat Operator Licensing Does your state require mandatory boat operator licensing? Other, please specify Minimum Ages for Non-PWC Vessels Does your state set a minimum age requirement to operate a motor powered vessel other than a PWC? If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the required age and any other details such as horsepower rating. Does your state set any minimum age requirements to operate a PWC? If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the requirements. Minimum Ages for Non-Powered Vessels Are there any minimum age requirements in your state to operate non-powered vessels such as sailboats, canoes or kayaks? If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the requirements. Education Reciprocity Do you accept out-of-state boating education certificates in your state? Other, please specify If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, which type of certificates do you accept? Does your state honor NASBLA-approved course reciprocity for non-residents? Other, please specify Wallet-Sized Certificates Does your state issue wallet size boating certificate cards? Other, please specify How long are education certificates/student wallet cards valid in your state? Challenge Exams Does your state allow students to take a challenge exam to meet your state boating education requirement? Other, please specify Online Courses & Proctoring Does your state have any laws in place which expressly prohibit online boating safety courses? Other, please specify Does your state require boating safety tests to be proctored? Other, please specify Water Skiing Does your state require an observer to be present when pulling a skier? Yes Other, please specify Does your state require a mirror to be present when pulling a skier? No Other, please specify Does your state prohibit water skiing during any specific time of the day/night? Yes If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please describe the time(s) when skiing is prohibited. From sunset to sunrise Water Skiing Does your state require a skier to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD? Yes Are self-propelled skis allowed to be used in your state? Yes Does your state require the use of a skier down flag? No Describe any other water skiing restrictions in your state. * boarding ladder must be on board * spotter must be at least 12 yoa Motorboat Noise Is there a maximum noise level for motorboats in your state? No If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please give the levels and standard used. Is there a factory muffling alteration law in your state? Yes If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the law? MA Ch. 90B, S6 - "The exhaust of every internal combustion engine on any motorboat shall have an effective muffler or approved underwater exhaust." Is boat noise governed by local ordinance in your state? Yes If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the local ordinance? The town of Falmouth enforces a recent local by-law, based on Nasbla's model act. Not aware of any other towns with ordinance. Marine Sanitation Devices Does your state prohibit Y-valve through-hull discharge in waters of state jurisdiction? Yes Other, please specify Does your state require Y-valves to be locked/closed in waters of state jurisdiction? Yes Other, please specify Marine Sanitation Devices What are the penalties for misuse or failure to equip a vessel with a Marine Sanitation Device in your state? No state-specified penalty What are the penalties for illegal dumping/discharge of a Marine Sanitation Device in your state? Ch. 270 - Crime against Public Health 1st offense: not more than $5,500 subsequent offenses:not more than $15,000 Personal Watercraft Operation Does your state require users to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD when operating a PWC? Yes Does your state require PWC rental operators to provide any instruction or education in PWC operation prior to use? Yes If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how much instruction is required? General safe operation of PWC and all PWC state regulations addressed. Safety Rules sticker and legal pamphlet covered. Does your state prohibit PWC operation at any specific times? Yes If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the times. Between sunset and sunrise. Personal Watercrafts and Skiers Does your state allow PWCs to pull water skiers? No If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, are there any restrictions? Personal Watercraft Restrictions Is there a speed limit specific to PWCs other than slow/no wake zones in your state? No If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the speed limit. Is PWC operation restricted within any area or zone in your state? Yes If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the restricted area or zone. (1) Eastern area of Cape Cod:six contiguous towns have prohibited them in local coastal waters. Are limitations imposed on wake jumping with PWCs in your state? Yes If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please describe the limitations. The "unreasonable" jumping the wake of another boat is prohibited. Is there a kill switch or safety lanyard requirement for PWCs in your state? Yes Life Jackets Which persons in your state are required to wear a PFD and under what circumstances? All PWC users All waterskiiers (persons being towed) Youths less than 12 yoa,when above board Canoeists/kyakers from mid-September thru mid-May. What are the penalties for violating PFD regulations in your state? $50 fine. Blood Alcohol Content What is the BAC level at which a person is considered intoxicated in your state? 0.08 Does your state have a lower threshold for BAC for minor boaters? Yes If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, what is the BAC level for minors? 0.02 Boating Under the Influence Does a BUI conviction impact an offender's automobile driving privileges in any way in your state? Yes If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how are their privileges impacted? BUI and OUI are considered "like offenses" - multiple like offenses may result in the suspension or revocation of a motor vehicle license. Refusal to take breath, chemical, or blood test upon arrest results in loss of m.v. license for 180 days. BUI Saturation Patrols & Checkpoints Are BUI saturation patrols utilized in your state? No If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how are they used? Are BUI checkpoints utilized in your state? No If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, how are they used? Alcohol Testing for BUI Does your state allow blood tests to determine BAC or BUI? Yes Does your state allow breath tests to determine BAC or BUI? Yes Does your state allow urine tests to determine BAC or BUI? Yes Test Usage in Criminal Evidence Blood Breath X Urine Field Sobriety Tests Does your state require field sobriety tests to be conducted on shore? Yes Other, please specify Can refusal of a test be used against a boater in criminal prosecution in your state? No Other, please specify Do marine officers utilize random BUI inspections that include boarding the boat in your state? Yes Negligent Operation of a Vessel Does your state allow officers to issue citations for negligent operation of a vessel? Yes Portable BUI Equipment Does your state allow the use of hand held or portable BUI enforcement equipment? Yes Does your state allow the use of hand held or portable BUI enforcement equipment to be used for probable cause? No Does your state allow the use of hand held or portable BUI enforcement equipment to be used for evidentiary purposes? Yes What percentage of law enforcement officers have access to hand held or portable BUI enforcement equipment in your state? 0% Probable Cause Does state law require probable cause for marine officers to stop a vessel? No Other, please specify Does state law require probable cause for marine officers to board a vessel? No Other, please specify Towing Distressed Vessels Do marine officers utilize random safety inspections that include boarding the boat in your state? Yes Other, please specify Are marine officers allowed to tow vessels in distress in your state? Yes Other, please specify Are seaplanes "on the water" treated as vessels in your state? No Other, please specify Liability Insurance Does your state mandate liability insurance for boaters? No On-Water Pursuits Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on on-water pursuit? No Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on interstate on-water pursuit? No Transporting Subjects, Accident Victims, Guests Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on transporting subjects? Yes Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on transporting accident victims? No Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on transporting guests? Yes Officer Safety Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on requiring officers to wear Coast Guard-approved PFDs? Yes Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on skin care safety for officers? No Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on hearing safety for officers? No Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on back safety for officers? No Towing Distressed Vessels Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on towing distressed vehicles? No First Responders, First Aid, Good Samaritans, Search and Rescue Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on being a first responder at an accident? Yes Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on the use of first aid? No Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on the Good Samaritan law? No Does your state have a written, formal marine law enforcement policy, operational procedure or executive order on search and rescue? No Which of the following action is legal when operating a PWC?A PWC operator must always face forward. A PWC must be operated in a responsible manner. Maneuvers that endanger people or property are prohibited, including: Jumping a wake with a PWC within 100 feet of another vessel.
What is legal operation of a PWC in Massachusetts?No person under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat, unless accompanied on-board and directly supervised by a competent person 18 years of age or older. Personal watercraft (PWC) users must still be at least 16 years of age in order to operate, with no exceptions.
Do I need a license to operate a boat in Massachusetts?Massachusetts law requires all motorboat operators who are 12 through 15 years of age to complete an approved boating course in order to operate a motorboat without adult supervision. Also, all PWC operators who are 16 or 17 years of age or older must complete an approved boating course.
Which agency is responsible for regulating the state boating laws in Massachusetts?The Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) is the Commonwealth's primary marine enforcement agency, ensuring boater compliance with boating laws and regulations.
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