Age Limit Law

[Tom10W]

What is the new age limit law that has been mentioned on a couple of threads? Is it "Federal" or "State" driven.
OK, I really don't have a problem meeting the age restriction. I do know a good number of drivers under 16 in Wisconsin, Region 6/Region 7 that would be affected by a "Federal" law. We used to have a Wisconsin State age limit law but it was changed.

Thanks,

Tom Kargus

[ryan_4z]

Tom,

This is a NJ state law.

[Steve Warnock]

Wisco Law

TK and others,

These are State driven Laws. Wisco has had this one for years, its in your watercraft registration handbook you get from the DNR. A few year back we got tagged by the DNR at the Lodi, Wi race as the Ambrose Family got some print in the Madison paper. We did not officially run the J Class that day but let the 2 there take a couple of starts at the clock. The DNR showed up later that afternoon and started asking questions on classes and drivers ages. It got out that our J Class is for ages 9-15. Nothing was done by the DNR(out of Madisons DNR HQ) to BSOA, but there was concern about the future. Basically we kept a very low profile and have not had any issues since. As I and the kids and Mom have gone thru the Boaters Safety class we have had learned alot about the Boating Laws for the State. Pretty sure in Wisco a person 12+ can drive as long as an adult is with them. Between 12 and 16 they can drive alone if they can show proof that they have taken the boating safety course. At 16 your on your own.
Actually the State of WI is trying to make it maditory for all boater and watercraft owners/drivers to take this safety course in order to reduce boating accidents. It has not passed yet.

So in the future the Old F@rts like you that have been driving boats since they were in diapers may have to take this course and it about 10 hours worth of time.
Not all states have these laws.
Hope this helps!
Warbs

[Bill Huson]

mandatory boating course . . .

A great idea, but . . . I'm involved in motorcycle safety training and several states thought mandatory M/C training was a peachy-keen idea. Problem: If a state *requires* the course, be it M/C or boating, then the state better dang well be able to MEET THE NEED! At this point in time that is no doable. There aren't enough instructors, enough sites for training, and no budget to supply enough course to MEET THE NEED.

Doubt this? Get online with the USCG & USCG Aux and check out course offerings. A pathetic selection at best. This might barely meet the need for boaters who *want* to take the course, but the program is a few hunderd thousand seats short of serving every single freaking boater who NEEDS the course shoulds it become a requirement.

One thing for sure, boating age laws would have wrecked my childhood - on the water in my own outboard boat at age 11. Without my boat who knows, I mighta become a bad boy. Hmmm . . .

[Big Don]

When we first moved to Wisconsin they were not putting J’s on at their races because of the Law Steve speaks of. At least that is what they told us anyways. It left us no choice but to travel every weekend if we wanted to go racing. We drove to Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania so the kids could race.

The problem is in Wisconsin they don’t hold the courses very often and when they do, they fill up so fast you can hardly get in one. Plus if your children are active in other activities good luck. Coaches don’t like to hear that you’re going to miss the next two weeks of practice because you have to take boaters safety. So you’re stuck trying to find one that is held on weekends, 2 Saturdays 5 hours each. Then hope they have them before summer gets here so they don’t conflict with a race.

[Tom10W]

Must do something

Can the NJ racing clubs petition the State for exclusion for racing only?
If I had a kid racing I would try anything to get him/her back on the water!
I agree with Bill, boat racing kept all of us on the straight and narrow and we never got into any trouble.

TK10

[Steve Warnock]

Forgot about the Allen move at that time

I think Bill hit it on the head as why the wisco law has not passed, there is no eduction funding/people/teacher to make it work.

I think we only missed one year of J, but some (Allens)did miss the local races based on the posibility of a DNR fine. Even tho the club was going to pick up the tab if a fine was given.

Even today with budget cuts, the DNR Ranger Ricks are spread very thin. So they even keep a low profile on racing events as we bring $$ to the local communities

Warbs

[Ron Hill]

Mexico Testing

California has never been too friendly to kids driving boats, at least not in the last 50 years... When Chad was just starting to race "J", we'd go to the Rio Hardy in Mexico to test... The water was always "flatter than an Nun's Chest" (and that is pretty flat) we'd go test from sun up til sun down... and it was only 26 kilometers into Mexico and the tacos cost 25 cents and the Sol beers were also a quarter...A man could buy 8 beers for two dollars....

We had some great times testing in Mexico, which was less than 180 miles from our house...

I would think, that APBA's insurance would cover any age group...some seniors might be too old to drive...

Sport C, had 9 entries, last weekend, average age of the drivers was 70.....

[Richard K.C. Mo.]

Not enuff Copps Yet!

But since you suggested it i'm sure it'll **** sure happen.
Far be it from me ,to say anything but what the heck's wrong with not saying anything, you seem to have to mention all the things Girls do, gossip is a sin.
Some things really don't need saying , and i'll shut up on that.
RichardF.

[Steve Warnock]

KC Confusion

Rich,

do'nt no wat yo meen, but yo sayd i'll/youd shut up! Pleezez do, as yo sate-ments say not-a-thang.

Do not mean to afend here, but your statments are very confusing!!!!!!!!!

Warbs

[Richard K.C. Mo.]

I think Why even ask!!

Unless you think it takes a VILLAGe, just wandered , how many motorcycle types would endorse that.? Fergot , homeland security doesn't ride a "cycle.!!!
Moon, Moon, i can see you sinking low , Carolina Sunshine Girl.!!!

A great idea, but . . . I'm involved in motorcycle safety training and several states thought mandatory M/C training was a peachy-keen idea. Problem: If a state *requires* the course, be it M/C or boating, then the state better dang well be able to MEET THE NEED! At this point in time that is no doable. There aren't enough instructors, enough sites for training, and no budget to supply enough course to MEET THE NEED.

Doubt this? Get online with the USCG & USCG Aux and check out course offerings. A pathetic selection at best. This might barely meet the need for boaters who *want* to take the course, but the program is a few hunderd thousand seats short of serving every single freaking boater who NEEDS the course shoulds it become a requirement.

One thing for sure, boating age laws would have wrecked my childhood - on the water in my own outboard boat at age 11. Without my boat who knows, I mighta become a bad boy. Hmmm . . .

[Richard K.C. Mo.]

KC confusion/ Wi ignorance

Steve, i didn't script all this B.S. you guys rant and rave about as you pretend to be racers , i read , everything you say is probly true , but it's a lot warmer here .

Rich,

do'nt no wat yo meen, but yo sayd i'll/youd shut up! Pleezez do, as yo sate-ments say not-a-thang.

Do not mean to afend here, but your statments are very confusing!!!!!!!!!

Warbs

[Richard K.C. Mo.]

Sounds Like more Taxas" to me

Hey Steve are you politician? Heaven forbid , lobbyist, duck my head.?

I think Bill hit it on the head as why the wisco law has not passed, there is no eduction funding/people/teacher to make it work.

I think we only missed one year of J, but some (Allens)did miss the local races based on the posibility of a DNR fine. Even tho the club was going to pick up the tab if a fine was given.

Even today with budget cuts, the DNR Ranger Ricks are spread very thin. So they even keep a low profile on racing events as we bring $$ to the local communities

Warbs

[Bill Huson]

Quite true, Richard K.C.

Unless you think it takes a VILLAGe, just wandered , how many motorcycle types would endorse that.? Fergot , homeland security doesn't ride a "cycle.!!!
Moon, Moon, i can see you sinking low , Carolina Sunshine Girl.!!!

Some estimates claim 40% of bike riders are riding without a motorcycle endorsement on their permit. Why? Because they can't ride for crap and can't pass the skills test required by most states. And even though most M/C fatalities are head injury, there are a large number of bikers who decry helmet rules and work to have them overturned in states that have a helmet law. I figure no helmets required would work in societies favor by improving the gene pool.

[PopPop]

J-Kids

I was messing around in boats when I was 11 also but there wasn't a zillion other boats on the water and PWCs didn't exist. The state law is being enforced due to the large number of kids involved in jet-ski accidents and deaths. Greg took a course, in PA, when he was about 12 and got a permit of some sort that is good in other states. Get the kids out and into whatever is necessary. They are probably not going to exemt racing. If anything they could get tougher on all of us. NJ restricts age in auto racing. We just have to live with the laws.