Commentary: New boating law will make South Carolina waterways safer | Commentary

Two groups of private citizens helped improve South Carolina’s boating laws, including passage of the new Boating Safety and Education Law.

Safe The Lake was formed by the Kiser family after Stan Kiser died and his wife lost a leg in a boating crash on Lake Murray in 2019. I formed Boating Safety South Carolina after my 11-year-old son Drew was killed in a boating crash on Lake Murray in 1997. In both accidents, the people responsible were impaired.

As South Carolinians, we have always taken immense pride in our independence. I was born a Southerner and grew up in South Carolina from the age of 5, so I learned this many years ago. However, when it comes to boating safety, that independence has hurt us.

In a historic move last week, South Carolina joined 46 other states that have a boater education course requirement for certain age groups before they may operate a boat or personal watercraft.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, boating fatalities are second only to highway fatalities among transportation deaths. The Coast Guard says that more than 75% of recreational boat operators involved in fatal boating accidents had not taken a boater education course. And the S.C. Department of Natural Resources says boating-related accidents and fatalities have been on the rise over the past five years.

The Boating Safety and Education legislation, S.96, passed the S.C. House on a 97-7 vote on June 7, one day after my son Drew’s birthday. It was sent to Gov. Henry McMaster for his signature, over two years after its primary sponsor, Sen. Chip Campsen, first introduced the bill in January 2021.

Those born after July 1, 2007, are now required to complete a boater education course approved by DNR in order to operate a boat or personal watercraft powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater.

Everyone born on or before July 1, 2007, is exempted. Other exemptions include anyone who has a Coast Guard-issued license regardless of its expiration date, any nonresident who has in their possession a boating safety certificate issued by another state and anyone accompanied by a person born after July 1, 2009, that has taken a DNR-approved boating safety course — or anyone accompanied by a person born before July 1, 2007.

The standard online training course takes three to four hours to complete, depending on your experience, and there is no requirement to renew. DNR offers a free classroom instruction course and BoatUS offers a free online approved course. Taking the course also may save you money on your boat insurance.

A shorter boating safety course for boat and personal watercraft rentals is offered; it takes about an hour to complete and is valid for 30 days.

In the first year, the new law will apply to people 16 years and younger. Eventually, as time goes on, everyone will have taken the course.

During my attempt to change our state boating laws in 1999, one thing we asked for was increased boater education. We were unsuccessful then because the public identified a boater education requirement with boat licensing. The timing was just not right.

This year, Boating Safety South Carolina took a different approach. We put together a coalition of more than 110 elected officials, business leaders, state and national boating organizations, and countless boaters from all over our state. We spent many hours at the Statehouse and even more behind the scenes, writing letters and providing state lawmakers with facts about why boater education is important. We published six booklets and sent them to all 170 members of the House and Senate along with hundreds of letters.

Because of this new law, South Carolina’s waterways will be safer.

Many good people worked diligently to get this legislation passed, proving that everyday citizens can make a difference. Special thanks go to Sen. Campsen and Rep. Chris Wooten who worked tirelessly on the legislation for three years. Thank you on behalf of everyone who helped get this law passed, and especially the families who have lost loved ones in boating crashes.

Randall Smith has been a supporter of boating safety issues in South Carolina for over 25 years. He wrote the Boating Safety and Reform Act of 1999 (Drew’s Law), and is the founder and chairman of Boating Safety South Carolina and a founding board member of the South Carolina Crime Victims’ Council.