Alberta Boating License question

[Sundancefisher]

I can't find any information on whether technically a boating license is needed on a private lake or pond?

Anyone know of anything? I can postulate that given the RCMP and/or police would have to enforce... how would they assume jurisdiction over private water?

[elkhunter11]

You can be charged with impaired driving on your own property, or with having a loaded firearm on a motor vehicle on your own property. And in both cases, this could involve a boat.

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

You can be charged with impaired driving on your own property, or with having a loaded firearm on a motor vehicle on your own property. And in both cases, this could involve a boat.

I just confirmed the government. There is no stipulation on private versus public waters in Canada. A boaters license is required in all circumstances when using a motor.

[CNP]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

You can be charged with impaired driving on your own property, or with having a loaded firearm on a motor vehicle on your own property. And in both cases, this could involve a boat.

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

I just confirmed the government. There is no stipulation on private versus public waters in Canada. A boaters license is required in all circumstances when using a motor.

I'm a skeptic of government providing information. You're right that there is no stipulation on private vs public water. However, the Canadian Navigable Water Act and the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations require that a pleasure craft operator card is necessary for boater operating on Canadian waters. A private pond is not navigable water and not Canadian water. A drivers license to operate a motor vehicle is not required on private property. Similarly, I don't see how a pleasure craft operator card is necessary to operate watercraft on a private pond. That's just me though

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by CNP

I'm a skeptic of government providing information. You're right that there is no stipulation on private vs public water. However, the Canadian Navigable Water Act and the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations require that a pleasure craft operator card is necessary for boater operating on Canadian waters. A private pond is not navigable water and not Canadian water. A drivers license to operate a motor vehicle is not required on private property. Similarly, I don't see how a pleasure craft operator card is necessary to operate watercraft on a private pond. That's just me though

Agree.

[Dean2]

Really? What are the odds anyone is ever going to come and check you on a private pond on private land. Since their is no clear answer, I would go with whatever I wanted and argue it with the officer or in court if the snowballs chance in hell ever did actually occur.

Have we come to the point where we go looking for ways to be further regulated than we already are?

[JB_AOL]

Unless the intent is for under-aged kids to drive the boat, why not get the licence?
Is it really that big of a deal? Pretty sure it was about 4 hours of my time, to study and do the test.

Gov't already has more information on you than you think.

[CptnBlues63]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

I can't find any information on whether technically a boating license is needed on a private lake or pond?

Anyone know of anything? I can postulate that given the RCMP and/or police would have to enforce... how would they assume jurisdiction over private water?

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here.......

The police either have to have a warrant, or reasonable cause to go onto private property as I understand it. If this is true, they can't ask you for a boating license if they're not allowed onto said private property. If they appear, without warrant or due cause, I'd just sit out in my boat and tell them to swim out and see if I have one...........after getting a warrant!

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by JB_AOL

Unless the intent is for under-aged kids to drive the boat, why not get the licence?
Is it really that big of a deal? Pretty sure it was about 4 hours of my time, to study and do the test.

Gov't already has more information on you than you think.

About 15 .minutes of my time at a gun show. This was right after the licenses came into effect, and they ran a lot of people through.

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by CptnBlues63

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here.......

The police either have to have a warrant, or reasonable cause to go onto private property as I understand it. If this is true, they can't ask you for a boating license if they're not allowed onto said private property. If they appear, without warrant or due cause, I'd just sit out in my boat and tell them to swim out and see if I have one...........after getting a warrant!

Agree you would have to either invite the police onto the property with a complaint or they would have to witness from outside the gate knowing a person did not have a license.

However the issue of liability is key. If you injure someone and you don’t have a boaters license are you more liable than if you had one?

However the legislation is clear. It is any water and not public only. Strange but so be it.

[Jamie]

My daughter is doing hers tonight. Should have had it years ago but better late than never.

The whole thing is just a way for someone to make a bit of $$$.

I wonder just how effective it has been after all these years?
Surely they know the Stats from before and after.

[huntinstuff]

Not sure how or why or if ever someone in authority would EVER come onto private property to check your boat license, considering it is simply a piece of garbage card that an 8 year old can get........like my son for instance. Calgary Boat Show. He kept taking the test at the booth until he passed. total joke

[Coiloil37]

I’ve been checked many times on the water, never once have they asked for my boating license. The whole program is a cash cow and they won’t even ask for a license if your not acting like an idiot on the lake.

[schmedlap]

My first PCOC disintegrated after 14 years in my wallet, and I got a replacement card last summer. It had never, ever been asked for in the several times that F&W checked out myself and sons and the boats over the years. The very next time, last August, as we were securing the boat and gear just pulled from the lake, the officer asked to see our cards, and we presented them. I told her that no one had ever asked to see it before, and she said she had just been directed recently to start asking for it.

[vcmm]

Wouldn't a warrant be required for private property???

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by schmedlap

My first PCOC disintegrated after 14 years in my wallet, and I got a replacement card last summer. It had never, ever been asked for in the several times that F&W checked out myself and sons and the boats over the years. The very next time, last August, as we were securing the boat and gear just pulled from the lake, the officer asked to see our cards, and we presented them. I told her that no one had ever asked to see it before, and she said she had just been directed recently to start asking for it.

How much was a replacement card?

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by vcmm

Wouldn't a warrant be required for private property???

As a bonafide armchair internet lawyer according to CSI New York a cop can enter onto private property if they have probable cause for suspecting a law is broke. Such as shouting. “Hey Suckas... I am boating without a license.

[bat119]

Make good poll
Have you ever been asked for your boaters safety card?

Same the federal boat registration never been asked although I heard about a crackdown at pelican narrows Sask the LEO's were handing out $250 tickets

[Little Valy]

How about just getting your license and then you are legal to go to any body of water that allows boats

[MathewsArcher]

While the bed and shore of the water body may be private. Water within Alberta remains vested in the Crown. While its use and diversion may be licences the water itself remains a Crown resource.

[Talking moose]

I had my water for the dugout shipped in by tanker from Norway,(no boater licence required there) and trucked from port to pond. Have all my receipts. Just waiting for the day they bust me. In court they will wish they just stayed home that day...(evil grin).

[58thecat]

When I get checked....I pull out both my fishing and boat liscence...was told it was not necessary....I told'em it was and is so here it is.....

[Talking moose]

Kinda like like how they never checked to see if your guns were registered. Maybe they figure this is just as stupid.

[CptnBlues63]

Originally Posted by bat119

Make good poll
Have you ever been asked for your boaters safety card?

Same the federal boat registration never been asked although I heard about a crackdown at pelican narrows Sask the LEO's were handing out $250 tickets

I had to show my boat license last summer and the summer before. The F&W folks were sitting at the boat launch checking everybody out going on and off the lake. I had to show the license as well as all other safety items...........life jackets, emergency kit, bailing bucket etc etc.

I've never been asked to show registration for the boat but that info is readily handy in the boat. As is the registration for the trailer.

I prefer not to give the police, the gov't or F&W any more money than I have to!

[schmedlap]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

How much was a replacement card?

$19.95. Or you can get 3 for $34.95.