PWIA honors Florida boating administrator

Richard Moore earns Boating Safety Leadership Award

The Personal Watercraft Industry Association has awarded Florida Boating Law administrator Captain Richard Moore the 2008 Boating Safety Leadership Award during the 49th Annual National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) conference in Clearwater Beach, Fla.

Moore is the second recipient of this annual award from PWIA, which recognizes a single individual in the boating law community who has displayed significant effort in promoting boater safety.

“This award is in appreciation for Richard’s hard work to make Florida’s waterways safer,” says Maureen Healey, executive director of PWIA. “His dedication and outstanding leadership in promoting boater education and safety helps keep boating one of America’s greatest pastimes.”

Moore has been instrumental in laying the legislative groundwork for several boating safety initiatives in the state of Florida. As captain of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Boating and Waterways section, Moore has been leading the charge for the state legislature to increase Florida’s minimum age requirement to operate a PWC from 14 to 16. While the legislation has not yet passed, Moore continues to promote and push for the measure.

“The personal watercraft industry has been one of our biggest champions behind boater education and safety,” says Moore. “We share the same belief that an educated boater is a more responsible, safety conscious operator. It is an honor to receive this award and I look forward to our continued collaboration.”

PWIA is a longtime member and supporter of NASBLA. The personal watercraft industry works across the country with state boating law administrators advocating for all or parts of its model legislation to be adopted. The model bill requires PWC operators to pass an approved boating safety class, be at least 16 years old to operate a PWC (18 to rent), operate PWC only during daylight hours; the law also establishes no-wake zones within 100 feet of shore or swimmers and punishes reckless operators.