This email is to give everyone a heads up that boat patrol will be checking for ID’s and boating safety certificates this weekend. Please be sure to have both on you at all times when boating or jet skiing.
I am directing the boat patrol staff to randomly stop jet skiers and boats throughout the weekend. Our staff will be respectful to you, please return that to them as they will be doing their jobs. This should be a very quick stop if you are already compiling with the requirements.
If you do not have your ID or boater safety certificate on you, you will have the opportunity to go home and produce both items. Boat patrol will follow you to your place and wait in the water off the shore. Once these items are reviewed by boat patrol, you can go back to your activities. If you can not produce either item, you will not be able to drive the watercraft on the water per the CLPOA Rules and Regs. Please note that anyone 38 years of age, or less, is required to have a boaters safety certificate per State law. This is also required per the CLPOA boating rules. If you are over 38, you are not required to have the Safe Boating Certificate.
Moving forward, you may be asked to provide this information more than you have in the past. This announcement is to prepare you that the checking of ID and boater certification will be much more widespread this weekend.
Below is a few of the boat rules that must be followed. The entire list of boat rules can be found at https://choctawlake.com/governing-documents/boating-rules/
(2) Anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 is required to take the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Safe Boating Course before operating a motorized watercraft on Choctaw Lake, and persons violating this rule shall be subject to a $50 fine (Effective 17 Jan 1996). Anyone who is stopped by a law enforcement officer or the CLPOA Boat Patrol on the waters of Choctaw Lake must produce a Safe Boating Certificate within 72 hours after being stopped.
(3)Personal Watercraft (i.e., Jet Ski, Wet Jet, Wave Runner, etc.):
(a)Children under 12 years of age may not operate a personal watercraft.
(b) Children between 12 and 16 years of age may operate a personal watercraft if a supervising person of 18 years of age or older is aboard the personal watercraft. The supervising person must hold a Safe Boating Certificate if the person was born on or after January 1, 1982.
Please note that state law is that anyone born after January 1st, 1982 is required to take the boater safety course before operating. This means that if you are 38 or younger, you need to take have this certificate.
Below is a link to take the course for free.
Thank you,
Mike Casimir
CLPOA Property Manager