i do not advocate more rules, just enforcement of the ones we have. in florida we have licenses for driving, fishing, hunting, just to name a few. generally, the requirement for licenses has helped to educate people. florida also requires a driver education course before issuing a learner's permit.



in most cases, license fees are used to fund education and enforcement. tampa bay is as big as tampa and st pete put together yet there are only a fraction of law enforcement employees on the water.



i know, i hear it now... more taxes. i would gladly pay a little to be safer when boating.



why is it that nobody with any sense would take out an airplane without lessons, but offer them a small water vehicle that can move as fast as a car and off they go. i'll tell you what, i feel much safer flying an airplane where everyone in the air is educated and licensed.



the water is getting more and more crowded and this is only going to get worse as time goes on.