Mandatory Boating Safety Education Class Offered in Lewis County

Boaters 59 years and younger are now required to possess a valid boating safety card when operating a vessel with a 15 horsepower engine or greater. Mandatory Boating Safety Education became a reality for Washington boaters six years ago.

Deputies from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a free Safety Education class on Saturday, June 7th. The class will be offered from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Training Room located on the first floor of the Law and Justice Center, 345 West Main Street in Chehalis. Lunch is not provided, however, there will be a lunch break during the class.

The class is limited to the first 25 people to register. There is no fee for the class, however; Washington State charges $10.00 to obtain your boating card after passing the test offered at the end of the class.

People born before January 1, 1955 are exempt from obtaining a boating education card.

To register for the class, call Lisa Arthur at (360) 740-2713. The class will be cancelled if there are less than five people signed up the week prior to the class.

While it is recommended boaters attend the formal class, vessel operators do have the option to take the safety education class online, for a fee. The test can be accessed at http://www.boat-ed.com/washington/index.html. Additional information on the program can be accessed on the Washington State Parks website.

Following is the schedule for when Boating Safety Education cards are required:

January 1, 2008 - All boat operators 12 to 20 years old;

January 1, 2009 - All boat operators 25 years and under;

January 1, 2010 - All boat operators 30 years and under;

January 1, 2011 - All boat operators 35 years and under;

January 1, 2012 - All boat operators 40 years and under;

January 1, 2013 - All boat operators 50 years and under;

January 1, 2014 - All boat operators 59 years and under.