JEFFERSON CITY — Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the Patrol is offering boating safety courses to inform and motivate boaters to prepare for the boating season. These approved courses meet the national boating educational standard.
“Missouri’s many rivers and lakes offer a variety of boating opportunities,” said Col. Olson. “Please do your part: Take a boating safety class. Join us in our mission to promote safety on our waterways.”
Missouri law requires everyone born after January 1, 1984, who operates a vessel on Missouri lakes to possess a certified boating safety education card. This includes personal watercraft operators.
Boaters have the opportunity to sign up for a certified course in a classroom at: https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/WP02Web/app/safetyEdClasses
The classroom courses provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol are free, but registration is required and the boater ID card costs $15.
Don’t see classes in your troop location? Please contact your nearest troop headquarters and ask to speak with a marine operations supervisor to check the possibility of administering additional classes. Troopers welcome invitations to teach classes for groups and teams throughout the state.
TROOP HEADQUARTERS CONTACT INFORMATION:
Troop A Lee’s Summit- (816) 622-0800
Troop B Macon- (660) 385-2132
Troop C Weldon Spring- (636) 300-2800
Troop D Springfield- (417) 895-6868
Troop E Popular Bluff- (573) 840-9500
Troop F Jefferson City- (573) 751-1000
Troop G Willow Springs- (417) 469-3121
Troop H St. Joseph- (816) 387-2345
Troop I Rolla- (573) 368-2345
U.S. Coast Guard statistics indicate that of the boating crashes where the level of operator education was known, 80.6% of boating deaths occurred on boats where the boat operator had never received boating education instruction. In contrast, only 19.4% of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator possessed a nationally-approved boating safety education certificate.
Watercraft operators must consider the effect their actions have on others. Share the waterway and use common sense, good judgment, and courtesy to ensure the safety of all. Life jackets save lives. Wear It!!