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Talk Back: Should Boating be as Regulated as Driving?

In light of recent tragedies Patch asks readers if more rules and laws are needed.

Two children died in Oyster Bay waters and there's a debate over whether there were enough life jackets and if the person driving the boat should have knew better than to have 27 passengers on his yacht that was reportedly made to hold 10 to 12.

A in the Great South Bay. Following the accident, the driver of the vessel that struck the boat, Brian Andreski, 26, of Dix Hills was charged with boating while intoxicated.

Right now there is no junior permit, junior license, or license required at all to own and operate a boat. Even a heavily suggested boating safety course isn't required once someone is 18. Literally anyone over 18 can launch a boat in New York water and only must comply with Coast Guard regulations relating to working lighting, safety jackets and other required emergency items. Local enforcement can detain boaters if it appears someone driving a boat is intoxicated.

So Patch wants to know: Is it time that the act of driving a boat be as regulated as driving a vehicle?

Vote in our poll and then share the reasons for your vote in the comments section.

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West Islip Resident May 18, 2013 at 07:23 pm
You can thank all these POS politicians for the new gun legislation designed to make law abidingRead More citizens give up their second amendment rights out of sheer frustration and incontinence of owning a gun legally for increases in savage on citizen violence. This is only the beginning and in short time many New Yorker's will be forced to remain in their homes fearing one of these animals will make them their pray. I for one believe in the old adage, it's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
ARNOLD MERKITCH May 17, 2013 at 07:34 pm
WREATH LAYING FOR 9/11 BEAM WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 11AM ON 5/2713
West Islip Resident May 17, 2013 at 09:06 am
Has anyone been able to find out if we are losing money renting this building to this for profitRead More preschool? If I under stood correctly from previous post's, there may be some friendship with one or more BOE members which paved the way for their lease.