2006-2007 Session:
New Jersey Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew (District 1: Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland), has proposed a bill (A2212) that would require kids ages 13-15 to wear a life jacket when a boat is underway. Current state law requires kids 12 years and younger to wear a PFD whenever the boat is underway.
No state currently has life jacket requirements for kids older than 12. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators has written a model act for states recommending requirements for kids 12 and younger. More than thirty states require kids 12 and younger to wear life jackets, while approximately a dozen states have lower age requirements. In the four states where there are no life jacket requirements, federal Coast Guard regulation requires kids 12 and younger to wear life jackets on federal waterways.
We encourage you to contact your local Assembly member with your views on this issue. To contact your legislator, use this link: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp.
CHAPTER 161
An Act concerning the operation of vessels on the waters of this State
and supplementing P.L.1962, c.73 (C.12:7-34.36 et
seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New
Jersey:
C.12:7-47.1 Child under 12 required to wear personal flotation device
on vessel underway.
1. a. Every person who operates a vessel on the waters of this State
with a child 12 years of age or under on board shall have the child wear
at all times a properly fitted United States Coast Guard approved personal
flotation device whenever the vessel is underway.
b. Any person guilty of violating this act shall be fined not less than
$25 or more than $50.
c. The operator of a vessel shall not be guilty of a violation of this
act if a United States Coast Guard flotation device of a size to
properly fit the child is not commercially available.
C.12:7-47.2 Rules, regulations.
2. The Boat Regulation Commission shall, pursuant to the "Administrative
Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et
seq.), adopt any rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the
purposes of this act. The commission shall exempt any class
of vessel from the requirements of this act if it deems that the size
or purpose of the vessels in a specific class make the
requirements unnecessary or inappropriate. The class of vessel exempt
from the requirements of this act shall include, but need
not be limited to, the class of vessels in which large commercial tour
or ferry boats are listed.
3. This act shall take effect January 1, 1999, but section 2 shall take
effect immediately
Approved July 10, 1999.
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