Pensacola Boating Accident Lawyer

What Are the Florida Boating Laws?

Florida Statutes Chapter 327 and Chapter 328 codify Florida boating laws. Rules for boaters in Florida to know include:

• All boats must register with the local tax collector’s office, except for non-motorized vessels less than 16 feet in length, non-motorized racing shells or sculls, kayaks, or canoes.
• Certificates of registration must be kept on board for inspection by an enforcement officer.
• Boats must have registration numbers on the forward half of both sides of the vessel above the waterline.
• Registration decals must be renewed annually and placed within six inches fore or aft of the registration numbers on the port side.
• Boat operators involved in an accident that results in injuries requiring more than first aid, death, the disappearance of a person, or $2,000 or more in property damage, must immediately provide notice of the accident to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the county sheriff, or the local police chief.
• Operators may not leave the scene of an accident without exchanging information with all other persons involved.
• Operating a boat with willful disregard for safety or in violation of federal navigation rules constitutes a first-degree misdemeanor.
• Boats in a “minimum wake” zone must operate fully off-plane, while in a “no wake” zone, boats must operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain headway.
• Operators born on or after January 1, 1988, must complete an approved boating safety course and obtain an identification card from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
• All boats must have U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices of appropriate sizes for each person on board, while vessels 16 feet or longer must have at least one USCG-approved throwable Type IV personal flotation device.
• Children under the age of 6 must wear a USCG-approved personal flotation device while on board a boat under 26 feet in length underway.

Common Causes of Florida Boating Accidents

Frequent causes of boating and watercraft accidents in Florida include:

• Defective Watercraft or Parts – Defectively designed or manufactured boating equipment or watercraft can lead to an accident when the defect causes a mechanical failure.
• Inadequate Maintenance – Poorly maintained equipment on boats can also lead to mechanical failure that causes an accident.
• Boating Under the Influence – Boat operators under the influence of alcohol or drugs suffer from impaired perception, reaction time, and judgment, making it more difficult to control a watercraft.
• Reckless Operation – Reckless operation of a boat or watercraft may include speeding, disregarding warning signs or buoys, operating in unsafe areas, or overloading a boat or watercraft.
• Inadequate Lookout – Boat operators must keep an eye out for other traffic and hazards on the water, including flags or buoys indicating subsurface hazards like rocks, debris, or divers in the water.
• Operator Inexperience – Operators who lack boating experience may not know navigational rules or how to handle emergencies on the water.
• Distracted Boating – Distracted watercraft operation includes using a cell phone, drinking or eating, or interacting with passengers.
• Poor and Hazardous Weather/Water Conditions – Operating a boat or watercraft in high winds, low visibility, or high seas increases the risk of an accident.