Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 |
For Immediate Release |
Proposed rules to implement Oregon's Mandatory Boater Education Program, as defined in HB 2977 passed by the 1999 Oregon Legislature, are now open for public comment. Meetings are scheduled at four locations in Oregon in August, and rules are available for review upon request or on the Internet.
"This is the first chance boaters have had to see the proposed administrative rules," said Marty Law, education coordinator for the Oregon State Marine Board. "The legislature gave us a framework of basic requirements with HB 2977. The administrative rules are the fine details that will make the program work."
HB 2977 directed the Marine Board to implement a program that will require all operators of powerboats greater than 10 horsepower, and youths 12-15 operating any power boat, to take an approved boater education course and obtain a boater education card. People who have already taken an approved course, such as those offered by the U.S. Power Squadron, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or Marine Board, will not have to retake a course, but will need to apply for their boater education card.
"The rules were written within the sideboards set by HB 2977," said Law. "For example, the legislation specifically sets a minimum operator age of 12. While 37 other states set minimum operating ages for motorboats, this is new to Oregon. The law also doesn't allow us to 'grandfather' in older or experienced boaters, but experienced boaters do have the option of taking a challenge exam instead of a full course," said Law.
Other details of the rules include the phase-in. "Under these rules, we will begin issuing cards in January 2001 but we will not require anyone to carry a card until 2003 when the phase-in begins. In 2003, eligible boaters age 30 and younger will need a card. In 2004, it jumps to 40 and younger, then 45 and younger in 2005, 50 and younger in 2006, 60 and younger in 2007, 70 and younger in 2008 and all boaters by 2009."
The goal of the program, according to Law, is to reduce accidents, injuries, fatalities and property damage on Oregon's increasingly crowded waterways. "All this law asks is that motorboat operators have a basic understanding of Oregon's laws, rules of the road and safe operating practices. Classes, homestudy and Internet courses are already available to help boaters meet the requirement, and more options will come on line in 2001," said Law.
The rules will be open for public comment until 5 p.m. Thursday, August 31. The public may respond in writing via mail, e-mail or fax, or may attend the public meetings planned in Portland, Lincoln City, Medford and Bend in August.
The public meetings are scheduled as follows:
| Wednesday, Aug. 9 | Portland | 7 p.m. | State Office Building, Room 120-C, 800 NE Oregon St. |
| Tuesday, Aug. 15 | Bend | 7 p.m. | Bend-Metro Parks and Recreation District, Aspen Hall, 18920 Shevlin Park Rd. |
| Tuesday, Aug. 22 | Lincoln City | 7 p.m. | Lincoln City Council Chambers, 801 SW Highway 101 |
| Tuesday, Aug. 29 | White City | 7 p.m. | Public Works Auditorium, 200 Antelope Rd. |
Proposed rules are available on request by calling (503) 378-8587, or via the Marine Board web site at www.boatoregon.com. Written comments may be mailed to: Oregon State Marine Board, PO Box 14145, Salem, OR 97309. Comments may also be faxed to (503) 378-4597, or e-mailed to marine.board@state.or.us.
Marine patrol officers have arrested more than 110 intoxicated boat operators so far this boating season, a number on par with last year's record-breaking total of 268. Eighteen of the arrests so far this year occurred during a special "saturation patrol" in Multnomah County over the July 4 holiday weekend.
A series of saturation patrols are planned at key waterbodies across the state this summer. "Our goal is to offer a visible deterrent to boaters who are inclined to drink and operate a boat," said Pat Rowland, of the Oregon State Marine Board. "About half of all boating accidents are alcohol related. We want to educate boaters not only that drinking and boating is dangerous, but it has serious and expensive legal consequences."
A follow-up saturation patrol on Klamath Lake on Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8, was rained out, according to the Marine Board. Thunder storms kept most people off the lake - marine patrol officers made no arrests.
Alcohol isn't the only problem officers are finding out there. Of the 18 Multnomah County BUII arrests, three involved cocaine and one involved marijuana. And then there were the pipe-bombs. "One of our officers flagged down a car speeding through a boat launching area and subsequently discovered five homemade explosive devices. The youths apparently intended to light them off as fireworks," said Rowland. Rowland described the devices as powerful explosives requiring the expertise of the Portland Police bomb squad, who closed the boat ramp and detonated them on site. "It's a good thing those kids didn't light them off - there could have been serious injuries," said Rowland.
During saturation patrols, marine patrol officers from several counties converge on a single waterbody with the cooperation of the local sheriff. They make numerous boater contacts, checking for required safety equipment such as life jackets, sound-making devices, fire extinguishers and more. "We keep a sharp look-out for boaters who are drinking, operating their vessels erratically or putting other recreators at risk." Benton, Jackson and Clackamas counties assisted Multnomah County on the July 4 effort.
Saturation patrols may be making a difference, said Rowland. Officers report seeing fewer drinking boaters on certain key waterbodies where enforcement has been stepped up in recent years. "As local populations learn about the laws and see the enforcement efforts, they either lay-off the alcohol or stay off the water. Still, there are too many violators out there," said Rowland. "There's a lot of work left to do."
The public comment period regarding a petition seeking motorboat restrictions on several popular south coast fishing rivers has been extended through Thursday, August 31, according to the Oregon State Marine Board.
The petition seeks to prohibit the use of motorboats on Floras Creek and the Elk, Pistol, Sixes and Winchuck rivers. A public hearing was held June 29 in Gold Beach. The deadline for written comments was originally June 30. Comments may be sent to: Oregon State Marine Board, PO Box 14145, Salem, OR 97309. Comments may also be faxed to (503) 378-4597, or e-mailed to marine.board@state.or.us. For additional information, contact Wayne Shuyler, Marine Board Assistant Directory, at the above address, or via phone at (503) 373-1405 x240, or via e-mail at wayne.shuyler@state.or.us.
The public comment period on a petition to enlarge a "pass-through" zone for personal watercraft on a portion of the lower Willamette River has been extended through Thursday, August 31.
The petition seeks an extension of an existing seasonal pass-through zone for personal watercraft in the area between the Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge and Elk Rock Island. The current zone is between Rocky Island and the Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge from May 1 through Sept. 30. A public hearing was held June 22 in Portland.
Written comments may be mailed to: Oregon State Marine Board, PO Box 14145, Salem, OR 97309. Comments may also be faxed to (503) 378-4597, or e-mailed to marine.board@state.or.us. For additional information, contact Wayne Shuyler, Marine Board Assistant Directory, at the above address, or via phone at (503) 373-1405 x240, or via e-mail at wayne.shuyler@state.or.us.
