|
"
Thousands of boats are expected to be on the water for the Fourth of July weekend, and experts say some of those operating them are unprepared to navigate safely...Experts and law enforcement officials are looking to improve safety on the water with measures like New York’s Brianna’s Law, passed in 2019 and says that by January 2025, all powerboat operators, regardless of age, must have a boating safety certificate after a state-approved eight-hour course. The law phased in such training based on age. Boats can be operated by anyone as young as 10 with a boating safety certificate, according to New York State law. Long Island Congressional representatives Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park) and Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) are sponsoring the Brianna Lieneck Boating Safety Act, which would encourage states to mandate boating safety training and direct the U.S. Coast Guard to submit a report to Congress on ways to improve boating safety and “reduce the number of boating accidents that occur due to untrained boat operators.” Brianna's mother, Gina Lieneck, recalled the crash that killed 11-year-old Brianna in 2005, in which she, her husband and another daughter, Danyelle, also were critically injured after their boat was struck by a larger vessel while returning from Fire Island. Boating while intoxicated charges were filed against the other boat operator, but later dropped. “I lost my beautiful daughter Brianna to a horrific boating accident 18 years ago on the Great South Bay,” Gina Lieneck said in a statement through Garbarino’s office. “Life changed in a matter of seconds … Each year, too many Americans are injured or killed due to preventable recreational boating accidents on our waterways.”
"
Read the full article here.
| 
