New Jersey Safe Boating Laws

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Click to go to N.J. Government site: Operating Requirements | Licenses, certificates and safety

Persons 12 years old or younger may not remain onboard any underway vessel (except short-run ferries and large commercial vessels longer than 65 feet) unless they are properly wearing a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.

Persons under 13 years may not operate any power vessel.

Persons 13-15 years old may operate a power vessel of less than 1 HP, a vessel powered by a 12 volt trolling motor, or a vessel 12 feet or longer powered by less than 10 HP if they have successfully completed an approved boating safety course and have a boating safety certificate in their possession. Anyone, of any age, may operate those vessels without a boat license.

Persons 16 years old or older may operate any recreational power vessel. Persons operating on nontidal waters must also carry a New Jersey boat license. In addition, a person born in 1979 or later and all operators of personal watercraft — less than 16 feet long equipped with an internal combustion engine that powers a water jet pump that can't be disengaged as to prevent the vessel from making headway — must complete an approved boating safety course and carry the certificate whenever operating the vessel. They must present this certificate when they apply for a boat license to operate on nontidal waters.

Violations

Penalties for boating law violators include:
Operating a power boat without completing a boating safety course: minimum $100, maximum $500 fine.
Failing to carry or exhibit a license when operating a power boat on nontidal waters: up to $500 fine and/or up to 60 days imprisonment.

Penalties for boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol and/or refusal include:
Operating a power boat while DUI on tidal or nontidal waters:
1st Offense: loss of right to operate in NJ:
Vessel: 12 months
Vehicle: 3 months*
* Violators under age 17: to 17 years, 3 months
MOPED operators: from sentence date to 17 years, 3 months
and
Fine $250-400

2nd Offense: loss of right to operate in NJ:
Vessel: 24 months
Vehicle: 6 months*
Fine $500-$1,000
* Violators under age 17: to 17 years, 6 months
MOPED operators: from sentence date to 17 years, 3 months
and
Community service: 30 days
Jail: 48 hours-90 days

Note: Penalties for certain DUI-related offenses may increase to double fines and imprisonment (if committed within 1,000 feet of property used for school purposes) or forfeiture of the vessel and/or vehicle. These offenses include DUI, driving revoked, vehicular homicide or refusal to take a chemical test.

Penalties for refusing a breathalyzer or chemical test, all ages, are loss of right to operate power boats and vehicles and:
1st Offense 6 months and $250-500 fine
2nd Offense 2 years and $250-500 fine
3rd Offense 10 years and $250-500 fine

Vehicles as defined are automobiles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, MOPEDs and agricultural vehicles.