Division of Law Enforcement to Offer Boating Safety Challenge Exam at Boat Show
PROVIDENCE - Department of Environmental Management staff will be on hand at the Providence Boat Show at the RI Convention Center to renew current boat registrations, answer questions about registering new boats, administer a boating safety challenge exam, and have available boating safety information. The Providence Boat Show is sponsored by the RI Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) and will run from January 31 through February 2.
"DEM has worked in partnership with RIMTA over the years on numerous efforts to promote safe and clean harbors, and we look forward to participating in this year's Providence Boat Show," noted DEM Director Janet Coit.
Computer terminals and staff assistance will be available for those boaters who wish to renew their boat registration online via credit card at the boat show. Boaters who plan to use the online service must bring their registration number with them in order to complete their renewal application online, as this data will not be available from DEM at the boat show. Boat registration staff will be available on Friday, January 31 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, February 1 from noon to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, February 2 from noon to 3 p.m. to offer assistance to boaters renewing boat registrations on the self-service web portal. Boaters will receive a temporary registration at the show until the actual registration card and decals are mailed.
There will also be a secured drop box at the boat show for boat registration renewals, available at any time during the show. (Drop box renewals must be by check only.) Renewal registrations left in the drop box will be processed on Monday, February 3.
Boating Safety Information, Challenge Exam Offered
DEM's environmental police officers will host an information center at the boat show. It will feature information on boater education courses that are now mandatory for all boaters born after January 1, 1986 who operate a boat with a motor greater than 10 horsepower, and for all operators, regardless of age, of personal watercraft . They will also offer safety tips, emphasizing the importance of wearing life jackets, provide information about boating laws and equipment requirements, and answer questions on boating, hunting, fishing, and shellfishing.
Boat show participants will have an opportunity to take the Boating Safety Challenge Exam on Sunday, February 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m . Environmental police officers from DEM's Division of Law Enforcement will proctor the exam. There is no fee for the exam, and pre-registration is not required. The exam takes approximately 30 minutes to complete, and people should plan to arrive no later than 12:30 p.m. to allow adequate time to complete the exam. Results will be provided by mail following the exam.
Individuals who choose to take the challenge exam for certification are advised to study the information presented in "Boat Rhode Island, A Course on Responsible Boating" and "The Handbook of Rhode Island Laws and Responsibilities." Both publications are available online on DEM's website or by contacting DEM's Division of Law Enforcement at (401)222-3070 for the home study packet. You may also access this information through DEM's state-approved online boating safety study course at http://www.boat-ed.com/ri/index.htm. Those taking the challenge exam will need to provide a form of photo identification . A parent must be present for a child under the driving age who does not have identification.
In addition, individuals seeking summer employment with DEM can pick up application forms at DEM's boat registration booth. DEM is seeking seasonal employees 16 years of age and older for such positions as park rangers, beach managers, seasonal laborers, lifeguards, lifeguard captains, program interns, recreation area clerks, student researchers, and mosquito technicians.
Paid positions are also available as part of the Department's seasonal hiring program. The program gives qualified individuals a chance to explore jobs in agriculture, parks and recreation, fish and wildlife, air resources, waste management, forest environment, water resources, management services, and policy and planning.
DEM has mailed out approximately 20,000 boat registration renewal forms to boaters whose current registrations expire at the end of February. A $2 discount off the price of one admission to the Providence Boat Show is available for those purchasing tickets online at www.dem.ri.gov. The discount does not impact the fee charged by the State of Rhode Island to register and title a boat.
DEM's online boat registration renewal service at www.ri.gov allows for registrations to be renewed via credit card. This service carries a convenience fee of between $1 and $12 depending on boat size, and can be reached through DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov. Boaters can also complete a change of address online, at no cost, at www.ri.gov/dem/boataddress.
Forms for registering and titling new boats will be available at the show and are also available on the DEM website. New boats must be registered at DEM headquarters at 235 Promenade Street in Providence.
"DEM and RIMTA share an understanding that the quality of the environment underpins and links with the success of our marine trades and tourism industries," Director Coit noted. "Together, we have worked successfully to enact legislation to address marine debris, to establish policies to support clean marinas and pump-out stations, and to celebrate the world-class natural resources and facilities of Rhode Island."