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| Commonwealth of Massachusetts | ||
| Massachusetts Environmental Police | ||
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Aaron Gross, Director |
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Boat and Recreation Vehicle Safety Bureau |
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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| Questions: | ||
| 1. What is Boat Massachusetts? | ||
| 2. Who is required to take a Boating Safety Course in Massachusetts? | ||
| 3. How can I obtain information explaining the Massachusetts’ boating laws, operation guidelines, and | ||
| other safety information? | ||
| 4. How can I enroll in a state approved boating safety course? | ||
| 5. I cannot attend any of the courses currently scheduled…what should I do? | ||
| 6. Does the Massachusetts Environmental Police honor online boater education certificates? | ||
| 7. I lost my Boating Safety Certificate…can I get a replacement? | ||
| 8. I’m an out-of-state boater…what should I know? | ||
| 9. What are the requirements for Personal Floatation Devices (PFD’s)? | ||
| 10. Where can I boat launch access and/or fishing information? | ||
| 11. Where can I operate my Personal Watercraft (PWC)? | ||
| 12. Can I tow with my PWC?. | ||
| 13. What types of vessels are required to be registered? How do I register my boat, PWC, or | ||
| recreation vehicle? | ||
| 14. Am I required to register my paddle craft (kayak, canoe, rowboat)? | ||
| 15. What are my obligations in the event I am involved in an accident, collision, or other such | ||
| casualty that results in death, disappearance at sea, injury, or damage to property in excess | ||
| of $500.00 or complete loss, while operating my vessel? | ||
| 16.What is an OHV? | ||
| 17.What are the age requirements for persons operating Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV’s)? | ||
| 18. Do the age restrictions apply to private property? | ||
| 19. What operation restrictions exist on public and private properties? | ||
| 20. What are the requirements for the OHV Safety and Responsibility Course? | ||
| 21. How do I enroll in an approved OHV Safety and Responsibility Course? | ||
| 22. What are the registration requirements for OHV’s? | ||
| 23. How can I obtain information explaining the Massachusetts’ boating laws, operation guidelines, | ||
| and other safety information? | ||
| 24. What are my obligations in the event I am involved in an accident, collision, or other such | ||
| casualty that results in death, injury, or damage to property in excess of $50.00, while | ||
| operating my OHV? | ||
| For further guidance, safety and/or legal information, to obtain forms, or request copies of accident | ||
| reports, please contact the Environmental Police Boat and RV Safety Bureau at (508) 759-0002. | ||
| Answers to Frequently Asked Questions: | ||
| 1. BOAT MASSACHUSETTS is a state and nationally approved boating safety course, | ||
| concentrating on the equipment and operating guidelines needed to enjoy boating in a safe and | ||
| responsible way. All graduates in the 12 through 15 year-old age group, will be issued a safety | ||
| certificate allowing them to operate a motorboat without adult supervision, as required by state | ||
| law. Additionally, youths 16 and 17 years of age who wish to operate a personal watercraft, PWC | ||
| (jet ski, wave runner, etc.), will also be issued a safety certificate. The course runs 10-12 hours in | ||
| length. All classes are free of charge. Classes are for youths 12 years of age and older, as well | ||
| as adults. Family participation is encouraged and has proven to be very rewarding. | ||
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| 2. All persons ages 12 through 15 must successfully complete an approved boating safety course and | ||
| earn a Boating Safety Certificate in order to operate a motor boat without adult supervision. All | ||
| persons ages 16 and 17 must successfully complete an approved boating safety course and earn a | ||
| Boating Safety Certificate in order to operate a personal watercraft (PWC). No one under 16 is | ||
| allowed by law to operate a PWC | ||
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| 3. The Boat Massachusetts guide to boating laws and responsibilities is available online at: | ||
| http://boat-ed.com/ma/handbook/boater_education.htm . A hardcopy can be requested by contacting | ||
| the Massachusetts Environmental Police Boat and Recreation Vehicle Safety Bureau in Bourne at | ||
| (508) 759-0002. | ||
| Summaries of Massachusetts boating laws can be located at: | ||
| http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/boatinglawsummary.htm and personal watercraft summaries are | ||
| available by visiting http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/pwcsafety.htm . | ||
| Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 90B can be located at | ||
| http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90B . | ||
| Code of Massachusetts Regulations 323, which contains the rules and regulations promulgated by | ||
| state agencies, as well as the administrative orders and decisions, pursuant to the Administrative | ||
| Procedures Act, can be viewed by visiting http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/323cmr.htm . | ||
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| 4. Current course schedules, along with state approved providers, can be located at | ||
| http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dle/courselist.htm . You can also enroll by contacting the Boat & | ||
| Recreation Vehicle Safety Bureau at (508) 759-0002. | ||
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| 5. A request to be added to the email notification list containing a list of upcoming course dates can be | ||
| accomplished by registering on our website at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/boatrvsafe.htm . You | ||
| can also contact one of the approved providers listed on the bottom of the course schedule page at | ||
| http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/courselist.htm . | ||
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| 6. The Massachusetts Environmental Police do not honor online boater education courses or | ||
| certificates. | ||
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| 7. Duplicate Boating Safety Certificates can be obtained by contacting the Massachusetts | ||
| Environmental Police Boat and Recreation Vehicle Safety Bureau at (508) 759-0002. | ||
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| 8. Because each state has their own unique requirements, it is important to familiarize yourself with | ||
| each state’s regulations prior to entry. Massachusetts specific guidelines can be reviewed by visiting | ||
| http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/boatrvsafe.htm . | ||
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| 9. In Massachusetts, PFD’s are required to be worn by 1) all youths less than 12 years of age; 2) all | ||
| persons on a personal watercraft (PWC); 3) all persons water skiing or tubing; and 4) all persons | ||
| canoeing or kayaking during the time period of September 15 – May 15. | ||
| All vessels must have at least one wearable, properly fitting Type I, II, or III U.S. Coast Guard | ||
| approved life jacket (PFD) readily accessible for all persons onboard. Any motorized vessel greater | ||
| than 16 feet in length are required to keep aboard at least one Type IV throwable device. | ||
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| 10. Public boat access, canoe / car top launch sites, and fishing access can be obtained by visiting the | ||
| Public Access Board at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/pab/index.htm#PABSites or at (617) 727-1843 | ||
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| 11. Personal Watercraft can only be operated on waters greater than 75 acres; however, many | ||
| municipalities throughout the Commonwealth have instituted restrictions extending beyond this upon | ||
| certain bodies of water. It is recommended that PWC users research or contact local authorities | ||
| prior to PWC operation. | ||
| The waters in and around the Cape Cod National Seashore are entirely off limits to PWC operation. | ||
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| 12. Personal watercraft (PWC) are not authorized to tow water skiers, tubes or any similar type devices | ||
| in any manner upon Massachusetts waters. | ||
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| 13. State law requires the registration of any boat that is powered by a motor and operated on public | ||
| waterways in Massachusetts. Registration is required even if the motor is not the primary means of | ||
| propulsion for the vessel. Some examples of boats that require registration include fishing boats with | ||
| motors, recreational motorboats, canoes or sailboats that use motors (includes electric motors), and | ||
| personal watercraft, such as wave runners. Boats exempt from registration requirements include | ||
| those that do not use motors and documented vessels (large boats that are issued a marine | ||
| document and registration through the U.S. Coast Guard). Please visit the Massachusetts | ||
| Environmental Police Registration Bureau site: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/elereg.htm | ||
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| 14. Non-motorized vessels do not require registration within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. | ||
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| 15. The operator or owner of the vessel involved shall notify a law enforcement officer immediately and | ||
| file a written report of the incident with the MA Environmental Police within 48 hours in the event of | ||
| death, disappearance, or injury; all other cases must be reported within 5 days. You can download an | ||
| accident form by visiting http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/MEP_BoatAccidentRpt.pdf | ||
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| 16. An OHV (off-highway vehicle), or recreation vehicle, is any motor vehicle designed or modified for | ||
| use over unimproved terrain for recreation or pleasure while not being operated on a public way, to | ||
| include: | ||
| -ATV’s (a motorized recreation vehicle designed or modified for travel on 4 low pressure tires and | ||
| having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control); | ||
| -Dirt bikes (a recreation vehicle that is a lightweight motorcycle, equipped with two in-line wheels, | ||
| designed for operation on unpaved surfaces, dirt roads, and trails); | ||
| -Recreation utility vehicles (a motorized flotation tire vehicle with not less than 4 and not more than 6 | ||
| low pressure tires that is limited in engine displacement to less than 1,500 cubic centimeters and in | ||
| total dry weight to not more than 1,800 pounds and that has a seat that is of bench design, not intended | ||
| to be straddled by the operator, and a steering wheel for control). | ||
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| 17. The Commonwealth has recently adopted new legislation which has impacted the ages of | ||
| authorization for OHV operation. The current restrictions are as follows: | ||
| - No person between 14 -16 years of age shall operate an all-terrain vehicle or a recreation | ||
| utility vehicle with an engine capacity greater than 90 cubic centimeters. | ||
| - When operating such vehicles 90 cubic centimeters or less, persons between 14-16 years | ||
| of age must be directly supervised by a person 18 years of age or older. | ||
| - A person between the ages of 10 and 14 may only operate a recreation vehicle while | ||
| directly supervised in preparation for, or while a participant in, a supervised and sanctioned race, | ||
| rally, or organized event approved by a municipal permitting authority; If operating an ATV or RUV, | ||
| said person is limited to a vehicle 90 cubic centimeters or less. | ||
| - A person under 10 years of age may only operate an age and size appropriate dirt bike | ||
| while directly supervised in preparation for, or while a participant in, a supervised and sanctioned | ||
| race, rally, or organized event and when preparing for such event, operation by a person under 10 is | ||
| limited to private property. | ||
| - No person under the age of 16 1/2 shall operate a recreation vehicle across a public way | ||
| unless directly supervised by a person 18 years of age or older. The public way and the crossing | ||
| must be marked and approved for recreation vehicle use. | ||
| - No person under 18 years of age shall operate a recreation vehicle or recreation utility | ||
| vehicle unless they have successfully completed an approved recreation vehicle safety and | ||
| responsibility course. | ||
| *The supervising adult must be sufficiently close to the operator at all times to maintain both visual | ||
| contact and verbal communications with the operator. The supervising adult shall be held responsible | ||
| for any operational offenses of the minor. | ||
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| 18. Yes. The new legislation is applied to operation on both public and private properties. | ||
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| 19. No person shall operate a recreation vehicle on private property unless the operator is the property | ||
| owner or an immediate family member, the operator has written landowner permission, or the | ||
| operator has current membership in an organization to which permission has been granted. | ||
| No person shall operate a recreation vehicle on public property except on trails marked and | ||
| designated for use by such vehicles, or without written permission. | ||
| Whoever, without right, enters upon the private land of another, whether or not such land be posted | ||
| against trespass, and in so entering makes use of or has in his immediate possession or control any | ||
| vehicle, machine, or device which includes an internal combustion engine or other source of | ||
| mechanical power, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars. | ||
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| 20. Operators under 18 years of age must take the OHV Safety and Responsibility Course to legally | ||
| operate in Massachusetts. In order to obtain an OHV Safety and Responsibility Course completion | ||
| certificate, you must complete two distinct courses. The first course is the online safety course | ||
| offered by an approved provider. Upon successful completion of that course, you must sign up for | ||
| and complete a two hour classroom course which will cover Massachusetts-specific content. | ||
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| 21. Visit http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/ohvcourselist.htm and follow the steps included on the page. If | ||
| you require further assistance, please contact the Boat and Recreation Vehicle Safety Bureau at | ||
| (508) 759-0002. | ||
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| 22. All off-road vehicles operated on either public or private property must be registered. Out-of state | ||
| registrations are not valid within Massachusetts. Registrations are not transferrable. | ||
| Certificate of registration must be in possession of the operator and available for display upon demand | ||
| of law enforcement officer or landowner. | ||
| For further information, contact the Environmental Police registration office at (617)626-1610, or visit | ||
| www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/elereg.htm | ||
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| 23. Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 90B can be located at | ||
| http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90B . | ||
| Code of Massachusetts Regulations 323, which contains the rules and regulations promulgated by | ||
| state agencies, as well as the administrative orders and decisions, pursuant to the Administrative | ||
| Procedures Act, can be viewed by visiting http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/323cmr.htm . | ||
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| 24. The operator or owner of the recreation vehicle involved shall notify a law enforcement officer | ||
| immediately and file a written report of the incident with the MA Environmental Police within 48 hours. | ||
| You can download an accident form by visiting | ||
| http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/forms/RecVehicleAccidentRpt.pdf | ||
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| Boat and Recreation Vehicle Safety Bureau | ||
| 5205 Ent Street | ||
| Buzzards Bay, MA 02542-9998 | ||
| Phone: 508-564-4961 | ||
| FAX: 508-564-4961 | ||