This rule does not change or supersede the existing law in states which have life jacket laws, it only applies to states that have no laws. Consequently, on those individual pages, we’ve linked to each states legal authority over boating and boating laws for that state. We love paddling! Wear Your Life Jacket. State laws may vary. About/Contact Us Let’s just say that the writing’s on the wall for state’s to create more kayaking rules, regulations, and specific laws that pertain directly to paddling. Texas Boating Laws: Life Jackets. All children under ten are required to wear an approved life jacket at all times while in a boat. exceptions for when below deck or within an enclosed cabin. Instead, they tend to cover their paddlecraft laws, rules and regulations within their state’s individual boating laws. The PFDs must be of the appropriate size for the intended wearer, be in serviceable condition, and within easy access. Wear a Life Jacket Recent year averages show that 90% of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. Equipment Rentals The Coast Guard recommends and many states require wearing lifejackets: Drownings are rare when boaters wear a proper life jacket. Our Life Jacket Loaner Program for kids can help you get the right life jacket for the day or weekend. Vessels of all lengths should comply with the stipulated laws on wearing of PFDs. Some of these laws were established by the U.S. Coast Guard, while others are specific to the state of Michigan. IRS rules for determining max deductions. Federal Law requires that when a vessel is underway, children under 13 years of age must wear their lifejacket. The information on life jacket laws below is a great place to start for any new paddler. Under California law, every child under 13 years of age on a moving recreational vessel of any length must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket in serviceable condition and of a type and size appropriate for the conditions and the activity. Life Jackets and Personal Flotation Devices - State law requires each person on board to have a properly-fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved serviceable life jacket. State by State Links Kayaking Life Jacket Law – One Life jacket on board per person. Life jackets are required to be worn in Class III or higher whitewater rapids. Utah law requires that all boats have at least one wearable U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket of proper size, in good and serviceable condition and readily accessible for each person on board. So please read your state’s individual life jacket laws for specific detailed rules and regulations. Kim Chandler with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife believes a new life-jacket-for-all law could save lives. (4) No person shall operate a vessel under nineteen feet in length on the waters of this state with a child twelve years old and under, unless the child is wearing a personal flotation device that meets or exceeds the United States coast guard approval standards of the appropriate size, while the vessel is underway. Michigan life jacket laws. Legal Disclaimer: This article was written for informational purposes only. So we built Paddle Camp to help you navigate the often confusing world of kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding, and river rafting. Free tool developed by the BoatUS Foundation. And as our “vessels” are smaller, harder to see, and less able to avoid collision by steering clear of trouble, we actually need to be more aware of safety than power boaters. Good for calm, inland water, or where there is good chance of fast … Please note that these laws provide boaters with the minimum age that a child is required to wear a life jacket. Don’t believe me? All 50 states are getting more and more serious about regulating and policing paddling with new and targeted kayaking laws. Sgt. All vessels are required to have onboard a wearable USCG-approved personal flotation device (PFD) for each person. Paddle Camp is a participant in various affiliate networks, including AvantLink, CJ, and others. However, it’s also due to the fact that we tend to think of our kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards as “toys” instead of what they are and what law enforcement considers them—”vessels” on the public waterways. National statistics show that in 2014, 78% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Each state has slightly different kayaking rules and regulations than the others, but they all point to one main goal—safety, safety, safety! When you read through the laws for your state and realize you can get the equivalent of a DUI, (BUI) Boating Under the Influence, for having a drink and getting on your paddle board…. State Boating Laws on wearing of life jackets applies to all vessels that are less than 26ft. In general, all life jackets, and this pertains to most states, must: An interesting use case that I kept coming across over and over again, was the “PFD must be worn while being towed” verbiage that many states had. Please help spread the word. The U.S. Coast Guards Boating Safety Division (CG-BSX-2) is dedicated to reducing loss of life, injuries and property damage that occurs on U.S. Waterways by improving the knowledge, skill and abilities of recreational boaters. LIFE JACKET WEAR REQUIRED BY LAW NOVEMBER 1 TO APRIL 30: Boaters are required, by law, to wear life jackets on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak during the cold weather months from November 1 through April 30. As always, these resources are informational only and not meant to replace your own investigation into state laws, statutes, rules and regulations. Most states now consider them all to be “vessels” and subject to boating laws. Kayaking BUI Law – Florida has Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws—0.08% BAL is considered under the influence. Rescues, News, and Life Raft information. Texas law states that all passengers under the age of 13 must wear a USCG approved life jacket when any vessel less than 26 feet in length is underway. Throughout the boating season, Indiana Conservation Officers will visit popular boat ramps and remind boaters that life jackets save lives. Yes. After sifting through state life vest laws, boating statutes, codes, injury and death statistics and online boater education information, I came up with ten simple rules you can follow in order to keep you kayaking safely and legally. So, we decided that instead of a project that started out as a way to help you find the kayaking life jacket laws by state, we’d create a monstrous resource to help you interpret all the state boating laws as they’re being applied to kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding. Approved PFDs should be worn on board all vessels on Nebraska waters. Who enforces life jacket laws? You've only seen one page. The Maine Warden Service recommends that everyone wear his or her lifejackets while on the water. 0.02% if you’re under 21. Each state may have additional wear requirements, such as for water skiing, personal watercraft operation, white water boating activities and during certain cool-weather months. That lifejacket must be in good serviceable condition, be sized appropriately for the person intended to wear it, and is must be readily available. If you will be operating a boat in another state, it’s advisable to check the boating and life jacket laws for your destination(s). But by no means are those the “legal” requirements for you to kayak, canoe or SUP in your state. We strongly suggest you follow the link to your individual state to read more specifics regarding your state’s kayaking laws. Sailboards and windsurfers are exempt from life jacket requirement, but are highly encouraged to wear one. The life jacket should not move more than 3 inches, no higher than the child’s ears. Learn more about the work of Indiana Conservation Officers on the Division of Law Enforcement's web site. One U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type IV (throwable) flotation device must be on board vessels 16 feet or longer. Learn about location accuracy and signal strength. NOTE: In states with no life jacket law for children, the U.S. Coast Guard regulations state that children under 13, while on boats that are underway, must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket, sized and fitted appropriately. In most states the laws read that there must be at least one U.S. Coast Guard Approved Type I,II, or III lifejacket (PFD) per person onboard the vessel (your kayak). All life jackets on your vessel must be: Serviceable - free of rot, tears, punctures, waterlogging and all straps functional; And children under 6 must wear a USCG-approved Type I, II or III PFD. If you have specific questions about your state’s laws, you should consult a local attorney. If the life jacket does move up more than 3 inches, it is too big and the child can slip right out—get a smaller life jacket! Infographic: The Modern Life Jacket; Logo: Wear It Indiana Clean Boating If the vessel is anchored or aground, then a life jacket is not required. To find the loaner site nearest you, use our convenient map . not require it. However, by following the links below to each state’s individual kayaking laws article, you’ll get a practical summary of information about how your state applies its boating laws to paddlers. Life Jacket State Requirements. Help support safe and clean boating initiatives. Education We all remember being beginners and having no clue what kayak, canoe, or SUP to buy. Nebraska Life Jacket Requirements. It’s the Law All vessels, including canoes and kayaks, must have at least one U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, or III life jacket for each person on board. The quantity and type depend on the length of your vessel and the number of people on board and/or being towed. You’ll notice that the two men aren’t wearing life jackets before they were run over by a 36′ boat, but they certainly are afterward. Additionally, PWC users must adhere to state regulations specific to personal watercraft operation: Wear an approved life jacket (PFD) at all times (operator and passengers). Also, boats longer than 16 feet must have a throwable PFD. Life Jacket Loaner Stations State law requires all vessels (including canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards) must carry at least one properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket (personal flotation device) for each person on board a vessel. Because the state life jacket laws are just the tip of the iceberg of kayak rules, and regulations that are coming to all 50 United States. Every person on board a personal watercraft must wear a USCG-approved life jacket. Compulsory PFD Requirements for Nebraska. Canoes and kayaks are exempt from this requirement. Kayak Life Jacket Laws By State NOTE: In states with no life jacket law for children, the U.S. Coast Guard regulations state that children under 13, while on boats that are underway, must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket, sized and fitted appropriately. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. While not required by law, we recommend that everyone wear a life jacket when on the water. We have lots more kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding info on the site to show you. But let’s pause for a moment… Because though you may not have to wear your life jacket by law, you might just want to wear it. You might groan over kayak life jacket laws, I did at first, but the boating injury statistics are clear—paddle sports related deaths and injuries are on the rise just as law enforcement was reducing recreational motorboat injuries. The information provided below does not reflect current legislation and is provided for informational purposes only. While researching and reviewing the kayak life jacket laws for all 50 United States, I wondered if there wasn’t a better way to summarize all that legal jargon down to it’s original purpose—save your life on the water. In general, most states still don’t have specific kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding laws. Minnesota law requires one U.S. Coast Guard approved, properly sized, and easily accessible life jacket for each person on the boat. Personal Watercraft (PWC) Life Jacket Law Any person on board a PWC is required to wear a Coast Guard-approved, life jacket at all times. Register your course if you are a provider. Indiana boating laws require that there must be one USCG approved wearable life jacket ( type I, II, III, V) onboard the watercraft for each person onboard. The included state links point to some seriously arduous and painstaking research we did into how boating laws are interpreted and applied to kayaking and the other paddling sports. PWC Life Jacket … For more information, see our Disclaimer page. Can you get a DUI on a Kayak? Paddle Camp is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means we will earn a commission on the products or services you purchase using the links. 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