Don't Call The State....

[Boat Newb]

Lol. I can't remember if I've complained about this before, but I'm 28 and I just don't understand the boaters certification law. They enacted it January 1st 2005, 10 days before my 21st birthday. It states that anyone born on or after January 1st 1984 has to take this before they can operate a motorized vessel on Missouri waters, etc. I was born January 11th 1984. Now why they didn't pick a start year that would've started with everyone turning 15 or 16 of the enacted year, I don't know. I had been running boats around Stockton Lake since long before January 1st of 2005. So since I was "in the mood" I politely called and asked to see if there was a reasoning behind the selected 1984 year. I heard some unrecognizable mumbling and the line disconnected. I assumed it was a phone issue so I called back and nope, apparently the lady meant to hang up on me as this time she clearly stated that it wasn't open for discussion and hung up again. Lol. I was just asking a question. So, don't call them and expect an answer or anything for that matter. I guess I would assume that they get a lot or have gotten a lot of calls about it and they're just cranky, but I just wanna know why. I understand the purpose of certification as the knowledge is needed, but why pick a year that most people would already have operating knowledge by then?

[Wayne SW/MO]

I guess I would assume that they get a lot or have gotten a lot of calls about it and they're just cranky,

May be, but we don't pay them to be cranky.

[fishinSWMO]

? Not sure I follow.

Everyday people are being born, lots of different age groups.

[Outside Bend]

My guess would be that most parents aren't going to allow their 15 or 16 year old to operate a motorboat solo. They probably set the cutoff at 21 in 2005 because at that point most boaters aren't under direct parental supervision, and likely because the 20-30 demographic contributes significantly to the total number of boating accidents.

[Boat Newb]

? Not sure I follow.

Everyday people are being born, lots of different age groups.

Right, but if they're going to enact a new law pertaining to the operation of something, set the cutoff age at the birth year of 16 year olds of the enactment year, not after I've put in several hundred hours and miles behind the wheel of a boat for 5ish years then decide out of the blue that I need to pay to go take a safety course and then acquire a certificate before I can operate a boat that I've already been operating accident free for 5ish years.

[moguy1973]

Should be easy to get the certification then?

[Boat Newb]

Should be easy to get the certification then?

With the exception of inconvenience in general, taking time off of work, and driving 2+ hours to the testing site, yes, it should be easy to get.

[tho1mas]

My 14 year old grandson got his on the computer. Then they mailed him the permit.

[Feathers and Fins]

Sometimes its just easier to do what city hall wants than fight them... Hey I been hunting all my life yet even with a hunting license from multiple states and a ccw I still had to take the hunters ed class when i moved to Arkie Land... No big deal only took a minimal time out of my day.

[fishinSWMO]

My guess would be that most parents aren't going to allow their 15 or 16 year old to operate a motorboat solo. They probably set the cutoff at 21 in 2005 because at that point most boaters aren't under direct parental supervision, and likely because the 20-30 demographic contributes significantly to the total number of boating accidents.

I agree, I think they were watching out for everyone's safety by going with the age of 21.