― NAVIGATION LAW AMENDMENTS ―
A 2262
Have defined all relative terminology including berthing facilities, docks, boat hoists, boat stations & boat houses.
Governor Paterson has signed A 2262, which amends the Navigation Law and increases the penalties for leaving the scene of a boating accident when a person knows or should know there has been an injury to another person.
The bill makes these changes:
- A first violation where an operator fails to provide his or her name, the name and address of the owner of the vessel, and the vessel identification number, if any, to the other party constitutes a class B misdemeanor.
- A subsequent offense within five years after the first conviction of such violation constitutes a class A misdemeanor
- If a vessel operator, who knows or should know that there has been an injury to another person, leaves the scene of the accident without reporting the accident to law enforcement, this violation constitutes a class A misdemeanor.
- Any subsequent such violation constitutes a class E felony.
- If a vessel operator, who knows or should know that there has been an injury to another person, leaves the scene of the accident without reporting the accident to law enforcement, and the injured person suffers serious physical injury, as defined by the penal law, or a person has disappeared under water as a result of the accident, this violation constitutes a class E felony.
- In the event that someone dies as a result of the unreported accident, this violation constitutes a class D felony.
A 6784
No owner or operator of a pleasure vessel less than twenty-one feet, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks shall permit its operation, between November first and May first, unless each person on board such vessel is wearing a securely fastened United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device of an appropriate size when such vessel is underway.
