Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

The weather is beginning to warm up, and Texans are making plans to get out on the water. But before setting foot on deck, consider taking a boater education course.

15—There’s a lot more people on the water. We’ve seen a major increase in canoes and kayaks. So people out here have to share the waterways. And the rules are different than they are for rules of the road when you’re driving your vehicle. So, it’s just a good idea to know some of those rules and the differences.

Texans learn those rules and differences in boater education classes. Tim Spice, who oversees the program for Texas Parks and Wildlife, says while training is beneficial for everyone who plans to operate personal watercraft, or vessels over 15 horsepower, or wind-blown vessels over 14 feet—it is mandatory for some.

15—If you were born after September 1, 1993, you are required to have boater education certification with you to operate one of those boats we’ve mentioned. The easiest way right now to get that class is online. We have an online provider—Boat Texas—very good program.

Find a schedule of classes on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

15—You can get on there, take the class, take the test, and then [if you pass], receive a temporary certification and you can go right out and immediately use the vessel legally. We have courses all over the state at our website, so you can come to our website [and sign up for a classroom instruction] if you prefer having an instructor help you out.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 at 12:00 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.