Trouble in Water Paradise : Weekend fatalities suggest state legislators should consider tighter boating regulations

To many recreational boaters, California’s expanse of ocean and abundance of picturesque lakes and rivers surely give the impression of unlimited space and freedom. But boaters must recognize that more vessels are taking to the state’s waters every year, demanding ever-greater safety consciousness on their part, plus tighter regulations to encourage responsible conduct.

The sheer number of boats--more than 825,000 are registered in California--has significantly increased the potential for accidents. So have greater power and speed: Some boats now can exceed 100 m.p.h.

In recent decades, tougher laws, more aggressive enforcement and better boater education programs have helped to decrease boating-related fatalities across the nation. However, California, along with some other states, still has a way to go.

Deaths occurred in two separate incidents in Southern California over the Labor Day weekend. On Sunday a 24-foot motorboat carrying 19--14 of them children--capsized just outside Los Angeles Harbor. One boy drowned and an infant girl was hospitalized later in critical condition. Coast Guard officials are investigating whether the boat was overloaded and whether drinking was involved.

Also Sunday, at Castaic Lake a man on a jet ski was fatally injured when he was struck, apparently by another jet skier who fled. No state law regulates use of jet skis, although they have been prohibited in a number of California cities.

One factor cited by authorities in many water-related accidents is alcohol. Last year, the Orange County Harbor Patrol arrested 11 people on charges of boating while intoxicated--more than double the number of arrests in 1992. Boating while intoxicated is a federal offense, subject to a $5,000 fine and a year in prison. It’s obvious that drinking and driving don’t mix, either on the highway or on the water. But less obvious safety matters--carrying proper flares and checking fuel lines and batteries before leaving the dock--also deserve greater attention.

Proposed laws requiring licensing, education and safety classes as a condition for operating water craft have been rejected by the Legislature. As the weekend’s tragedies suggest, it’s time to revisit the issue.