Summer is fast approaching and the marinas around Upstate New York will soon flood with eager boaters ready to enjoy the beautiful landscapes our region has to offer.

Before you pack your coolers and start towing your boat to the launch, you should be aware of a new law in effect in New York for many boaters that puts additional requirements on those operating a boat that have not been in place before.  

As signed by former Governor Cuomo in 2019, Brianna’s Law requires all operators of most boats to hold a boating safety certificate after January 1, 2025. This law applies to operators of typical motorboats and pontoon boats, as well as all “mechanically propelled vessels.” The certificate can be obtained through an in-person class or an accredited online course. In person classes can be found on the parks.ny.gov website while a few accredited online courses are boaterexam.com, boatsmartexam.com, and ilearntoboat.com.

If you are visiting from another state and have obtained a certificate in accordance with your state’s law, the certificate must be issued from your current state of residence and the course must be approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators, indicated by the NASBLA logo on the certificate.

If you have just purchased a boat as you gear up for summer fun, there is a 120-day grace period to acquire the certificate.

Before you embark on your next water adventure, be sure to obtain your boating safety certificate to avoid running afoul of the law.