 recent bill
introduced by State Senator Philip Erdman of Bayard, NE could
affect all boaters presently living in the state of Nebraska.
Legislative Bill 348 includes provisions that are directly related
to a fatal accident that occurred last summer in which a
17-year-old girl died.
The accident happened at Bridgeport State Lakes which is
located near the North Platte River. A 14-year-old Colorado boy
was illegally operating a personal watercraft and crashed into a
water tube in which the girl was riding. The parents of Samantha
Rader, the girl killed in the accident, are also in support of the
changes to Nebraska's boating laws. 
The bill addresses the following issues:
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Increase the legal age for operating a personal
watercraft to age 16 years. |
| • |
Require every boat or personal-watercraft operator to complete a boating safety course or examination. |
| • |
Increase the distance that personal-watercraft operators can jump wakes produced by another vessel from 90 feet to 150 feet and ban them from jumping wakes of boats towing tubers or skiers. |
| • |
Require every motorboat operator to have liability insurance for his/her boat and to present evidence of insurance at the time of licensing. |
| • |
Increase the age that people may rent, lease or hire a motorboat or personal watercraft from 16 to 18. |
| • |
Require that all boat licensing fees collected by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission be placed in a new State Watercraft Fund to pay for boating-related projects, including enforcement and education. |
| • |
Require the Game and Parks Commission to create a Watercraft Division to administer the State Watercraft Fund, enforce the State Boating Act, promote boating safety and create access to boating areas. |
| • |
Require the Nebraska State Patrol to assist the Game and Parks Commission in investigating boating accidents that result in death, a missing person or injury. |
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