Tragedy spurs Orange County to enact new boater-safety law

On July 1, Orange County enacted a new boater-safety law aimed at encouraging boat owners to purchase emergency locator devices. The law allows boat owners to receive an annual vessel registration discount if they purchase a Position-Indicating Radio Beacon or Position Location Beacon.

Once equipped to a boat, the beacons essentially function as emergency locator devices that have the potential to save lives. In fact, the new law, sponsored by Rep. MaryLynn Magar and Senate President Designee Joe Negron, was specifically created in response to a tragedy that occurred July 2015 with two teenage boys. 

Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen, two 14-year-olds from Florida, disappeared after their boat capsized. The boat finally washed ashore in Bermuda almost a year later.

“As a father, my heart goes out to the families of the two young boys whose lives were lost,” said Tax Collector Scott Randolph in a press release. “I’m hopeful that something good can come from this tragic incident, and I encourage every boat owner in Orange County and across the state to equip their boats with these potentially life-saving devices.”

The emergency locator device is meant to increase boaters’ safety by reducing the chance of such tragedies happening again. The devices are activated by water and send signals to the coast guard, alerting them to the location if a boat capsizes, said Orange County tax collector's office spokesman Eddie Ayala.

For boaters to receive the discount, boat owners must register their locator device with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and then provide proof of purchase to a tax collector office.

There are more than 22,000 vessels in Orange County to date – more than half of which measure 16-25 feet in length, making them eligible for an annual $3.92 discount. Depending on the size of their vessel, boat owners will be eligible to receive discounts of up to $22.62, according to a press release.