With the arrival of warm weather comes another boating season. As thousands of marine enthusiasts take to local waters and take advantage of all that Long Island's off-shore recreational opportunities have to offer, it is important to follow our boating safety laws to ensure that you enjoy a safe boating season.

Long Island has a larger boating shoreline than the entire state of California. The potential for boating accidents always exists. However, accidents can be easily avoided by following a few simple rules and using good judgment. For instance, when fueling a water craft, don't smoke, extinguish stoves, lanterns, and all flames. Turn off the engine, ventilate the bilge, avoid spillage and always keep in contact with the fill pipe.

Second, boats must be equipped with the required safety equipment. This includes one personal floatation device (PFD) for every person onboard, anchors and lines, sounding and signaling devices, distress flags and hand-held flares, fully charged fire extinguishers, first aid kits, flashlights, a CB radio and/or cellular phone.

In addition to having all the necessary equipment onboard, mandatory safety guidelines are in place to make operating a personal watercraft (PWC), like a Jetski, a safe endeavor. Anyone riding in or being towed by a PWC must be wearing the proper Coast Guard approved floatation device. If the craft is equipped with a lanyard-type cutoff switch, it must be attached to the operator's person. Operation of a PWC before sunrise and after sunset is prohibited, as is boating while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. As with Nassau County's tough laws against drunk driving, Nassau County has a zero tolerance policy against boating while intoxicated. Those who operate boats under the influence of alcohol will be arrested and may lose their boating privileges. This tough policy is preventing a lifetime of tragedy for potential victims and their families while ensuring safety on our waterways. We will not permit innocent victims to die at the hands of reckless and irresponsible boaters.

Several new state laws have come into effect that hopefully will yield smarter and safer boating and boaters. All persons between the ages of 10 and 18 must complete a Young Boaters Safety Course before they can operate a personal watercraft (PWC) alone. The law also mandates that PWC operators complete an educational course. This state law is being implemented gradually; right now, all persons between the age of 18 and 23 must be certified. By January 2004 all persons must complete a mandatory educational course. For local boating education courses and locations, please call the New York State Department of Parks and Recreation at (518) 474-0445 or the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary at 800-336-2628.

My office recently released our 2001 Boating Safety Tips guide. The guide includes vital information, including safety and equipment regulations, emergency numbers, recreational fishing guidelines, a description of the new legislation regarding PWC's and education certification, as well as nautical charts and high tide time tables for both the North and South Shores. The guide is a natural companion for navigating Nassau's beautiful waters. To receive a copy of the guide, contact my office at 571-6000.