Personal watercraft operators in the state of Michigan, along with anyone else riding on board, must wear a USCG approved Type I, II, or III life jacket; an inflatable personal floatation device is not allowed. 12 November 2018. Always paddle with a life jacket and file a float plan with a friend or family member, letting them know the “who, what, where and when” of your trip. Displaying the Registration Number and Validation Decals. The registration number and validation decals must be displayed as follows. So set a good example by being the cool boat captain who always wears their life jacket! State Boating Laws on wearing of life jackets applies to all vessels that are less than 26ft. Michigan Life Jacket Laws. It’s one of the most important things you can do for boating safety and it’s the law. Ohio’s life jacket laws state that other than commercial vessels, no person shall operate or permit to be operated any watercraft that is 16 feet or greater in length without carrying one, Type I, II or III wearable PFD for each person on board, plus one, Type IV (throwable) PFD. Today’s life jackets are much more advanced than they used to be. Note: This handbook provides a summary of Michigan law at the time of printing and is not intended to be legal advice. Many boating fatality victims fail to wear a life jacket. More than two-thirds of all boating fatalities are drowning incidents and 90% of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. South Australian lifejacket laws have changed to help keep our community safe when enjoying our states’ waterways. In Michigan, anyone born on or after July 1, 1996, must successfully complete a boater safety course approved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in order to operate a motorized vessel. Michigan law enforcement officers patrol the waterways to make your boating experience safe and pleasant. Michigan Law requires all vessels to have at least one wearable personal ... seven of eight Great Lakes states have specific laws governing children wearing life jackets — including Michigan. Federal law requires that all boats be equipped with one wearable life jacket for each passenger onboard the boat (wearable life jackets include Types I, II, III, or V). Furthermore, ORC §1547.18 requires people riding water skis, tubes, or any other device towed by a boat to wear a personal flotation device. YOUR LIFE JACKET! Add sandy beaches, historic lighthouses, remote islands, waterfront villages and port cities to the nation’s longest freshwater coastline and you have an For more information on Michigan Boating Laws, Registering your boat in Michigan, How to Title Your Boat and other Boating Safety tips for on the water, click on the links below. Once you get the dog alongside, the handle will help you either retrieve the animal or lead it around to an area where it can reboard the boat on its own. Life jackets: U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs or life jackets) must fit the intended wearer, be readily accessible, and be in good condition. Ohio Life Jacket Laws The Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §1547.24 requires all children under the age of ten to wear a personal flotation device when on a vessel under 18 feet. Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities Equal Rights for Natural Resource Users The Michigan Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunities for employ-ment and access to Michigan’s natural resources. Life Jackets are for Everyone A life jacket (or Personal Flotation Device - PFD) is the single most important piece of equipment on your boat and the most important consideration should be size. A life jacket can be the difference between life and death in an emergency. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BOATING IN THE U.S. Life Jacket Laws in Michigan Life Jacket Laws. While we also have one of the lowest rates of boating-related drownings, sadly, every year many boaters drown not wearing a lifejacket. All children under 13 years must wear a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket when the vessel is underway. New regulations came into effect from the 1st December 2017 and an awareness and education phase was undertaken by DPTI Marine Safety Officers for 12 months to enable boaters to become familiar and to replace existing lifejackets where necessary. Keep in mind that when you need your life jacket, you need to be wearing it. In states where no children's life jacket law is in place, a U.S. Coast Guard interim rule requires children under 13 on moving boats to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket that fits. Good for life! About 83 percent of drownings resulting from boating accidents in the U.S. are due to people not wearing life jackets. 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