Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law AB 591 [Villapudua] that will provide incentives for boaters to correct certain violations by authorizing an officer to issue a written notice containing a violator’s promise to correct an alleged violation of various offenses relating to vessels.
Similar incentives have already been established in the California Vehicle Code. Section 40303.5 of that code provides that certain vehicle-related violations may [and must] be corrected. However, no such authority exists in the Harbors and Navigation Code for boating violations. AB 591 would correct this oversight.
AB 591 allows for several specified boating law violations to be corrected, such as having an expired vessel registration, not having serviceable fire extinguishers, or not having a boater card in the operator’s possession. Under AB 591, an increased number of corrections will be made, and safety will be enhanced.
The bill will require an officer, unless certain specified conditions exists, to permit a person arrested for the following vessel-related offenses to execute a notice containing a violator’s promise to correct the alleged violation:
Expired registration.
Failure to paint the vessel identification number on the forward half of the boat.
Operating a vessel propelled by an engine without possessing an operating license.
Failure to display registration stickers.
Using a recreational boat without a proper floatation device, as specified.
Operating a vessel without a properly serviced fire extinguisher.
Having a fire extinguisher without the proper metallic name plate, as specified.
The measure was sponsored by the California State Sheriffs’ Association.