Beginning July 1, anyone in Virginia waters who operates a personal watercraft like a Jet Ski or Sea-Doo will be required to have passed a boating safety class.
The requirement has been phased in over the last few years and currently applies to people 50 years old and younger.
Also on July 1, boat operators age 30 and younger will be required to have passed a boating safety course. That law currently applies to boat operators 20 and younger.
The law raises that age in increments over the next four years. All boat operators will have to satisfy the boating safety education requirement starting in July 2016.
If you don't want to take the class, you have to pass an equivalency exam to satisfy the requirement. You can find out where to take a class here.
Exemptions are made for anyone who has had a license to operate a vessel from the Coast Guard, a marine certificate from the Canadian government, is operating a boat under the supervision of someone who has passed a boating safety class, or is only in Virginia waters temporarily but meets the safety requirements of the state the boat is registered in.
Max Smith, wtop.comhttp://www.wtop.com/41/2897609/New-boating-rules-come-into-effect-in-Va-soon
