There are numerous life jacket laws in Ohio of which every boater and passenger must be aware. The following provides a detailed overview of these life jacket or personal floatation device (PFD) laws and provides the citation where more information can be found.
Ohio's life jacket laws govern every aspect of boating, from the boat owner, to the boat operator, to the passenger. Please note that "life jacket" and "PFD" are used interchangeably in this article to refer to the same thing; United States Coast Guard (USGS) approved wearable floatation devices for individual use.
Ohio Revised Code section 1547.38 requires that all boat owners must provide safety equipment, including life jackets/PFDs on all vessels they own. A full list of the required equipment can be found at the Ohio Division of Watercraft's website by clicking on "Laws" in the top menu bar located on the homepage, then selecting the link titled "Required Safety Equipment." For our purposes, it is sufficient to know that life jackets are specifically named among the list of required equipment.
Vessels larger than 16 feet must be equipped both with a USGS approved personal floatation device per person and one Type V or throwable device (e.g. life preserver). Vessels under 16 feet must have a PFD, but need not have a throwable device. Each PFD must be USGS approved, be in "serviceable condition", fit the wearer, and be "readily accessible" to each passenger at all times. Note that the law does not require that the life jackets be worn. Instead, they must be readily accessible at all times. Boat operators, therefore, must make sure that their passengers know where the life jackets are and that the location is easily reachable at all times. (See Ohio Revised Code section 1547.25)
There are three exceptions where passengers must wear life jackets at all times.
The first involves water skiers, who must wear an approved, serviceable, and correctly sized PFD at all times when on the water. This includes both water skiers who are skiing on an object and those skiing barefoot (See Ohio Revised Code section 1547.18).
The second exception where PFDs must always be worn is when riding on personal watercraft (e.g. "Jetskis"). (See Ohio Revised Code section 1547.41)
The final and most important exception is for children. No vessel may be operated when a child under the age of ten is a passenger unless that child is wearing an approved life jacket. "Approved" life jacket means the same as for adults (USGS approved, serviceable, and well fitting), with the addition of the requirement that the PFD be "securely attached." Many child PFD's come with an extra "crotch" strap that extends from the back, goes between the legs, and secures to the front of the life jacket. This prevents the PFD from floating over and off the child's head. Having a five year old, I understand the realities of children and PFD's; they hate them. Still, children must get accustomed to their life jacket and understand the importance of wearing one. Until they do, check them regularly because even the littlest fingers figure out early on how to unbuckle their PFDs.
There are certain types of watercraft where Ohio's life jacket laws don't apply. These include racing shells, rowing skulls, sailboards, and any craft receiving a specific exemption from the Division of Watercraft.
Violating Ohio's life jacket laws can be costly. The owner, operator and the adult passenger can all be cited for the failure to wear a life jacket. The violation is a minor misdemeanor and can result in a $150 fine for both individuals. In the case of the child, the operator and the child's parent can be cited. Again, the violation is a minor misdemeanor and the fine is $150.
Boating is a tremendously enjoyable pastime, when pursued properly and safely. Being safe means, among other things, knowing who must wear PFDs, when they must be worn, and what types of life jackets meet the legal requirements. This article provides the essentials for Ohio boaters. If you are boating in another state, your laws could be significantly different. Be safe, check before you weigh anchor.