Boat Laws Boating People License Year's Cruise Owning

In the United States, many people enjoy owning a boat and using it with their families on the weekends, boating on the country's lakes, rivers, and "coastal waters" (the ocean water near land). However, owning a boat is a big responsibility and there are many boating laws in the U.S. The laws are different in each state, but they have many things in common.

Many boating laws are related to safety. Most states have laws requiring that life jackets or specific safety equipment be carried on the boat. There are also laws about using lights at night and "minimizing" (keeping low) noise. In addition, there are laws that "prohibit" (not allow) people from driving a boat if they are "drunk" or drank too much alcohol.

The owners of boats with "motors" (a machine that moves a vehicle) and large boats without motors usually need to register their boats with the state government. This usually requires presenting identification, proof that you own the boat, and an "annual fee" (a payment of money made every year).

Often the boat "operators" (the people who drive a boat) must have a boating "license," a document that permits them to drive a boat. Whether someone needs a license depends on the type of the boat and the speed of the boat. The laws and the requirements to get a license "vary" or are different by state, but they all require that a person pass a test about boat laws. Getting a license also may require taking a class about boat safety.