DUNEDIN, Fla. — A bill designed to increase boater safety on Florida waterways died in committee this past legislative session.

What You Need To Know

  • SB 30, a boateer safety bill, failed to pass this past legislative session

  • A fishing charter captain who supported the bill says he's disappointed it didn't pass because he sees numerous accidents out on the water frequently

  • While he anticipates the legislation will eventually be presented again, and ultimately pass, he hopes more people will take extra precautions to be safe on the water

In November, we spoke with a fishing charter captain who supported the proposal saying there should be more in place to protect boaters.

“We have a lot of people out on the waterways who are who are novices or new to the area and, think that it's just, you come out here and you can get on the boat, just go as fast as you want anywhere,” said Jared Simonetti, owner of Clearwater Fishing Company. “But that's not the case.”

He says accidents can occur when people are unfamiliar with the area.

So, he’d like to see more requirements in place for people to navigate the water.

“I really wish that there would be more classes and information,” Simonetti said.

When we talked with Simonetti in November, the state legislature was discussing a bill to increase boater safety by expanding who would be required to take safety training courses and would require boaters caught under the influence to buy insurance.

“There really needs to be something in place that allows people to understand boating more,” Simonetti said in November.

But the bill, to Simonetti’s dismay, didn’t pass.

“We really wish that it would have went through, just because the waterways are getting so crowded out here,” he said.

While 2023 data from the U.S. Coast Guard hasn’t been released yet, 2022 data shows there were more boating accidents and fatalities in Florida than in any other state in the country.

Since the proposal died in committee, Simonetti hopes more prospective boaters take it upon themselves to study the water they plan to enjoy and understand what’s required to be safe.

“We just need to take the time to understand what's going on out here and, you know, respect the environment and respect one another,” Simonetti said. So, if that means taking the safety courses, that's what we should do.”

The Coast Guard reports that there were 712 boating accidents in Florida in 2022.

Of those 712, 65 were fatal.