Proponents of water safety are supporting Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s veto of a bill that would have exempted boaters over the age of 45 from the state’s mandatory boater education requirement. The Virginia Safe Boating Council and Smith Mountain Lake Water Safety Council lobbied against the amendment. The bill would have eased the requirement for those who have had a boat registered in Virginia for six continuous years, as well as experienced and licensed watermen. On July 1, the law it will apply to boaters and personal watercraft users 45 and younger. In two years, the requirement will apply to all ages.
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