{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-4232","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-4232","heading":"Definitions - Requirements for persons younger than","body":"sixteen to operate certain motorized vessels, personal watercraft -\n\nBoating Safety Education Certificate.\n\nA. As used in this section:\n\n1. \"Vessel\" shall have the same meaning as defined in Section\n\n4002 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, but shall not include\n\npersonal watercraft; and\n\n2. \"Boating safety education course\" means a course in safe\n\nboating that meets or exceeds the minimum instruction standards as\n\nestablished by the National Association of State Boating Law\n\nAdministrators in effect at the time the course is completed.\n\nB. A person under sixteen (16) years of age shall not operate\n\nany vessel, as defined in this section, powered by a motor or\n\ncombination of motors in excess of ten (10) horsepower or any sail-\n\npowered vessel sixteen (16) feet or greater in length on the waters\n\nof this state unless the person has:\n\n1. Successfully completed a boating safety education course or\n\nhas passed a proctored equivalency examination which tests the\n\nknowledge of information included in the curriculum of such a\n\ncourse; and\n\n2. Received a Boating Safety Education Certificate as evidence\n\nof successful completion of a boating safety education course or an\n\nequivalency examination.\n\nC. A person at least twelve (12) years of age, but who has not\n\nreached sixteen (16) years of age, shall not operate a vessel, as\n\ndefined in this section, powered by a motor or combination of motors\n\nin excess of ten (10) horsepower or any sail-powered vessel sixteen\n\n(16) feet or greater in length on the waters of this state unless\n\nthe person:\n\n1. Has met the requirements listed in subsection B of this\n\nsection; and\n\n2. Is accompanied by a competent adult, eighteen (18) years of\n\nage or older, who is in a position on or in the vessel to take\n\nimmediate control of the vessel being operated.\n\nD. 1. A person under sixteen (16) years of age shall not\n\noperate a personal watercraft unless the person has met the\n\nrequirements listed in subsection B of this section.\n\n2. A person at least twelve (12) years of age, but who has not\n\nreached sixteen (16) years of age, shall not operate a personal\n\nwatercraft unless the person:\n\na. Has met the requirements listed in subsection B of\n\nthis section; and\n\nb. Is under the visual supervision by a competent adult,\n\neighteen (18) years of age or older within a distance of five\n\nhundred (500) yards.\n\nThe operator of a personal watercraft shall stay at least fifty (50)\n\nfeet away from all moving vessels, shall idle at or in the vicinity\n\nof docks and swimmers, and shall wear an approved personal flotation\n\ndevice.\n\nE. The Department of Public Safety shall promulgate rules\n\nnecessary for:\n\n1. The certification of programs and tests for boating safety\n\neducation offered by other public or private organizations;\n\n2. The administration of a boating safety education program;\n\nand\n\n3. The issuance of boating safety education certificates.\n\nF. A Boating Safety Education Certificate issued by the\n\nDepartment of Public Safety to a person who has successfully\n\ncompleted a boating safety education course or course equivalency\n\nexamination shall not expire.\n\nG. A person who is operating a vessel on the waters of this\n\nstate shall have in his or her immediate possession:\n\n1. The original Boating Safety Education Certificate as proof\n\nthe operator meets the requirements of this section; or\n\n2. A photo identification that clearly shows the operator is\n\nsixteen (16) years of age or older.\n\nFailure to present such proof upon request by a peace officer shall\n\nbe prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.","path":["OK Code","Title 63"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os63.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"86f0aca234f0bd00b5b92a2e8ab74d5cd284f91558038744eb39dcf357705f3a","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-4231","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-4233"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}