The California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways collects boating accident reports and analyzes them for the purpose of developing new strategies and making recommendations to improve boating safety and reduce accidents, injuries and deaths on the water.
In the event of a boating accident, it’s important to file a report so that the incident becomes a matter of public record. It’s also a legal obligation. Find out which circumstances require a boating accident report in California!
Boat operators are required to report a boating accident to California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) in the following cases:
Failure to report a boating accident in the circumstances listed above is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, a term of imprisonment lasting up to six months, or both.
A boating accident report must be submitted to the Division of Boating and Waterways within 48 hours in the following cases:
A boating accident report must be submitted to the Division of Boating and Waterways within 10 days in the following cases:
Fill out the official boating accident report form, sign it and mail it to:
California Division of Boating and Waterways
Attn: Boating Accident Unit
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
The information in the report will be considered confidential and cannot be used when taking legal action.
California has many laws in place to ensure that boaters stay safe on the water. These include everything from life jacket laws and carbon monoxide regulations to the requirement for everyone under a certain age to take a California boating safety course.
Drive a Boat USA offers a comprehensive online boating safety course that is approved by NASBLA and the state of California. By taking the course, you’ll learn everything you need to know to comply with state regulations while boating and stay safe on the water. Register today!