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:

John T. Chiarella: Auto and manually-inflated suspender-type PFD.....AND a kill switch lanyard.

Thomas J. Lynch: Question 1) YES - Power and sailboating since 1972. Currently Fleet 3 LI Catalina 30 Assoc., Commodore; Mt. Sinai Sailing Association Member for 9 years. A USCG Auxilarist for 12 years, and Flotilla Staff Officer - Vessel Examiners, Certified Boating Safety Instructor see http://www.cgapj.org/ for upcoming classes for Suffolk laws going into effect November 6, 2013.

Question 2) I wear a PFD as common sense would dictate to maximize my survivability in case of an accident or nature. When sailboat racing short or single handed always, when operating the boat ALL hands have PFDs per the EXISITNG LAWS. I follow the cold season EXISTING LAWS also [click here.]

Question 3) We have enough laws already. There are mandatory PFD laws for cold weather season already, and as well for ALL ages for PWC use. We do not need more PFD rules/laws we just need to better communicate and educate the boating public. They can make their own informed decision. We now have in Suffolk County a mandatory certification for all operator ages. NYS will surely put one in place soon. As long as the State our County does not start charging for all these documents just to make a buck, I support it. (I am doing the teaching and training for free.) So no new laws especially if they have a FEE, TAX, or CHARGE associated with it.

Tom Capodanno: I believe anyone on any type of watercraft should wear a PFD.

Janine Pisano-Record: Why do we need ridiculous laws when people SHOULD have the commonsense? You go in a boat-you put on a life jacket... you ride your bike-you put on a helmit... yes ma'am your McDonalds coffee is gonna be hot! ( why need the warning?!)

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?