NASBLA Enforcement & Training Committee Meets

The NASBLA Enforcement and Training Committee met this week in Lexington, Kentucky. Approximately 25 BLAs, state staff and associates attended the meeting. The committee work was accomplished through three subcommittees, including the Training and Certification Subcommittee, the Enforcement Techniques and Technology Subcommittee and the Uniform Boating Laws Subcommittee.

Highlights of the Training and Certification Subcommittee work included review of three NASBLA training programs, including the Boating Accident Investigation program, the Boating Under the Influence Detection and Enforcement program and the Motorboat Muffler Noise Enforcement program. Those three programs are now NASBLA certified training courses. Additionally, the subcommittee is developing new training modules covering boarding procedures, federal documentation and marine theft, and the committee has developed and is formalizing training in personal watercraft (PWC) law enforcement and search and rescue. Finally, the subcommittee approved the 2009 boat accident investigation seminar locations, which will be published after state confirmations.

The Enforcement Techniques and Technology Subcommittee studied the issue of noise detection and enforcement. There is some confusion among the states as to which standards are applicable and under what conditions they can be used. The subcommittee is going to verify the correct standards are being used under the correct conditions, and will develop a NASBLA policy position paper outlining the need for states to use the correct standards and to use the NASBLA Motorboat Muffler Noise Detection course to properly train their officers in those standards. The subcommittee is working on the development of a BUI checkpoint checklist and has obtained information from several states and the U.S. Coast guard to develop the final product. The subcommittee is also developing a policy position paper on increasing BUI patrols and increasing effectiveness through the use of the latest technologies.

The Uniform Boating Laws Subcommittee worked on updating the NASBLA Charter Boat Model Act. The committee reviewed and adopted suggestions from the National Transportation Safety Board to upgrade the model act and the accompanying Rules document, to be approved by the NASBLA membership this fall. Additionally, there will be a policy position paper in support of adoption of the revised model act. The subcommittee also created policy position papers in support of linking BUI infractions with driving privileges and in support of professional safe boating practices, including the wearing of life jackets by marine law enforcement officers while on patrol and supporting the concept of marine law enforcement officers taking boating safety education courses prior to operating patrol vessels.

Copies of the model act and policy positions will be posted soon on the NASBLA website.