Government
Young boaters may need safety course to drive
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By ALEX MITCHELL
Capitol News Service
LANSING—Michigan waterways may soon be safer due to a package of bills that would define operating requirements for drivers under 12. Michigan allows children under 12 to operate a motorboat between 6 and 34 horsepower if they are supervised by someone 16 or older. It is the only state to allow this except for the mostly landlocked states that have no boating restrictions such as Wyoming and South Dakota. Under Michigan law, There are no restrictions to driving a boat under 6 horsepower and under no circumstance can someone under 12 operate a boat with 35 horsepower or more. The proposed bills would require boaters 12 and under to receive a boating safety certificate approved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.