Brianna’s Law Prompts Mandated Boating Safety Courses in NY State

Otsego County Sheriff Richard J. Devlin, Jr. has announced that over the next several months, marine patrol officers will be conducting boating safety courses to educate boaters and to encourage the safe and lawful operation of vessels in compliance with Brianna’s Law.

Brianna’s Law is named after Brianna Lieneck, an 11-year-old girl from Long Island, N.Y., who was killed in a boating accident in 2005. This law phases in mandatory boater safety education for individuals who operate motorized vessels.

Failure to comply with this law could result in a fine of between $100 and $250. Below are the requirements:

- Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1993 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2020.
- Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2022.
- Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1983 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2023.
- Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1978 will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2024.
- All motorboat operators regardless of age will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2025.

The Otsego County Sheriff's Office will post course dates at a later time on the Otsego County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.