Boater ed safety courses, boat checkup set
Implemented in stages since 2001, Oregon law requires Oregon residents 12-years-of-age and older who operate powered boats of more than 10-horsepower to obtain their Mandatory Boater Education card. Failure to have a card under the above conditions might result in a $110 ticket.
This card is NOT a license to operate a boat, as there is no such requirement in Oregon. It is a one-time program; once a boater receives their card, it never has to be renewed. There is a one-time $10 cost to receive your card, and duplicate cards are available for $5.
While boat operators can access the testing material and actually take the test on-line, those doing so will generally be charged to take the test and receive a certificate.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office offers a monthly three-hour class free of charge that accomplishes the same goal. Students watch a video, are given information pertaining to specific Oregon laws and requirements, and have an opportunity to ask questions.
Students then take a 75-question multiple-choice test; a minimum score of 70% is needed to pass. The tests are graded at the class and once a student has passed, they receive all necessary paperwork and information on how to receive their card from the Oregon State Marine Board.
The following is the schedule of classes for 2014. All classes run from 6pm-9pm on the second Friday of the selected months at the main Sheriff’s Office in Bend (63333 West Highway 20).
Class Dates:
April 11, 2014
May 9, 2014
July 11, 2014
September 12, 2014
To attend a class or for additional information, go to www.boatoregon.com, or contact the Sheriff’s Office at 541-388-6503.
On Saturday, April 19th (the Saturday before opening weekend of fishing season), from 9am-3pm , the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Division will conduct its annual parking lot boat safety examination day.
Successful completion of the exam, which focuses on the mandatory equipment needed for your particular boat, earns you the annual safety sticker that goes on the back of your boat. This greatly reduces the chances of you being contacted on the water by marine patrol personnel for the same examination.
No punitive action takes place. If, for example, your fire extinguisher is expired, you have the opportunity to get a new one and then earn your safety decal.
The parking lot checks will take place at the following locations:
BEND : Sportsmans Warehouse (North End of Bend)
REDMOND : Big Country RV (3111 N. Canal)
LA PINE : Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office substation
(The old Mid-State Electric building off Hwy 97 on the south end of La Pine)
These examinations are free of charge and the event is presented as a public service by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
