In the aftermath of Saturday’s tragic boat capsizing on Lake Tahoe, where eight out of 10 passengers lost their lives, questions arise regarding safety measures and regulations.
The incident involved a DoorDash executive and family celebrating a birthday during a surprise thunderstorm, with waves reaching up to eight feet tall.
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California boating regulations now mandate that all motorized vessel operators obtain a
California Boater Card
by passing a boating safety course through an approved training provider. The regulation was
phased in by age starting in 2018
, and is now required of every operator as of January 1, 2025.
A
133-page electronic course
outlines crucial safety guidelines, including checking weather conditions, carrying life jackets for all, and using portable radios for weather updates.
It emphasizes wearing life jackets at all times while boating on cold water (like Tahoe’s 60-degree waters) to avoid cold water immersion and shock.
The guide acknowledges it can be difficult to put on a life jacket while trying to stay afloat.
If a boat capsizes, the guide recommends not swimming to shore unless it’s safe and climbing onto the hull of the boat until help arrives.
KCRA3 has asked the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office if these protocols were followed, including life jacket availability and the operator’s compliance with the boater card requirement. An agency spokesperson said it is working on providing answers, but says it may be too soon to comment.
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READ THE FULL STORY:
Get the Facts: What are California’s requirements for boat operators and what to do if a boat capsizes
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