Gear

Boating Safety Bill Becomes Law

Legislation May Help Boaters Save Money

By Kevin Falvey

Updated: March 30, 2016

The measure (HB 427) was proposed after Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen, two 14-year-olds from Tequesta, Florida went missing in July, 2015 after running a 19-foot boat out of the Jupiter Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean Cohen Family/Bill Barbosa Photography

Florida HB427 is a law we can believe in. It incentivizes boaters for taking demonstrable safety measures; specifically, boaters who purchase an emergency locator beacon, like a PLB or EPIRB, will receive a discount on boat registration fees.

Read the complete story from the Orlando Sentinel

On the US national level, similar legislation was introduced in Washington, D.C. in early March 2016. The bipartisan bill is sponsored by U.S. Reps. Patrick Murphy (D-FL-18) and Tom Rooney (R-FL-17) and introduced as the “Austin and Perry Safe Boating Incentive Act.”

Check the status of the Austin and Perry Safe Boating Incentive Act

Learn More About emergency locator beacons, including PLB and EPIRB

Celebrate 406 Day and Raise Beacon Awareness