Holiday Weekend Boating Safety Reminder

This is the last Labor Day weekend young boaters will be allowed to drive on Oklahoma lakes without first being certified. <br/><br/>Beginning January 1st young people, between the ages of 12 and 16,

Thursday, August 31st 2006, 10:03 am

By: News On 6

This is the last Labor Day weekend young boaters will be allowed to drive on Oklahoma lakes without first being certified.

Beginning January 1st young people, between the ages of 12 and 16, will need a Boating Safety Education Certificate before they can drive a watercraft. To get one, they'll have to pass a boating safety test.

Itâ€™s a new requirement created by the Kyle Williams Boating Safety Education Act.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Tony Richardson: â€œchildren are very special cargo and we've had a lot of fatalities over the years involving small children and boats and we hope to eliminate that by this educational program."

The OHP is enrolling people now for their one-day courses and exams. The next set of classes will be at the Bass Pro Shop in Broken Arrow on October 21st and 28th.

To enroll or find out more about the new requirement and classes, visit their website. Seating is limited so they encourage people to enroll now.