Should Life Jackets Be Mandatory For All Age Boaters?

Last year, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone signed into law a mandatory requirement for all boaters to take safety courses. Boaters have until the start of the 2014 boating season to take the course, which will be available through several organizations, including the U.S. Coast Guard.

One important aspect of boater safety is the wearing of an approved life vest.

According to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation all children under 12-years-old have to wear an appropriately sized life jacket unless they are in a fully enclosed cabin. Also, anyone, regardless of age, who is operating or riding a personal watercraft like a Jet Ski or Wave Runner must wear a life vest or if you are being towed behind a boat, e.g. water skiers and tubers. The law also requires anyone in a boat smaller than 21 feet on the water between Nov. 1 and May 1 to wear a life jacket.

As boating season kicks off, Patch wants to know how you feel about the issue of wearing life jackets for people of any age.

Many people think of the traditional design of life jackets that were uncomfortable, orange vests that limited movement and often made the wearer hot out in the sun on the water. Nowadays, life vests come in a variety of styles, some of them remaining lightweight and only inflating if the person is submerged in water.

We asked readers on Facebook what they thought. Here is what some had to say:

Jennifer Cicero-Dwyer: Yes life jackets can save lives.

Melissa DiSpigno MacDougall: I have always had a boat here in KP. I do not believe it should be a law to wear a life jacket but I think it should be at the bluff where the currents are so strong. There should be a marking from old dock to the Sound.

Lisa Gaines: NYS law requires all children under the age of 12 regardless of swim ability to wear one, a properly fitted one, for adults, captains & those in control should, in the event of an emergency it can be the difference between life & death. In addition to adults with little to no swim ability........

Daniel Mcdonald: Children yes. Adults no.

Peter Devlin: Children yes , adult's No if you know how to swim. Most Important is to have a Life Preserver / personal flotation device for everyone on board . NO IF AND"S OR BUTTS! You cant be too safe!

Tell us. How important is it to you personally to wear a life jacket? Do you think it should be a law for everyone to wear a life jacket regardless of age when on the water?