California Boating Law

TITLE 14

7501

DEPARTMENT OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS

7501. Requirements for Examination. (a) Prior to the issuance of a For-Hire Vessel Operator’s License, every

applicant shall meet the following requirements: (1) Have attained the age of eighteen (18) years.

(2) Show evidence of at least one year’s experience in operating the type of motorboat or motor vessel for which the applicant requests license to operate, on the type of water for which applicant requests license to operate. (A) (Reserved) (B) Other experience or training, which in the judgment of the Depart- ment is a reasonable equivalent, may be substituted. (3) Furnish information to the Department on forms provided by the Department regarding the following: (A) Name, address, date and place of birth, and description of applicant. (F) Certified statements regarding applicant’s boat handling ability and moral character from three persons having knowledge of these matters but who are not members of the applicant’s family. (G) Certification of the truth of the statements submitted in his applica- tion. (H) Applicant’s signature. (4) Submit a report, on forms provided by the Department, of a medical examination by a licensed physician within sixty (60) days of the date of application indicating: (A) Diseases and other physical or mental defects. Conditions such as epilepsy, insanity, senility, acute general disease or neurosyphilis, badly impaired hearing, or other defect that would render the applicant incompe- tent to perform the ordinary duties of a licensed operator are grounds for refusal to issue a license. (B) Possession, either with or without glasses, of at least 20/20 vision in one eye and at least 20/40 in the other. The applicant who wears glasses, however, must also be able to pass a test without glasses of at least 20/100 in both eyes. (C) Unimpaired color sense as tested by a test utilized by the U.S. Coast Guard to determine color sense, or a similar test. This requirement may be waived if the operation of vessels for which the license is sought will be limited to hours of daylight; provided that any license issued on the basis of such waiver will be limited to operation of vessels during hours of daylight. (D) Any of the requirements of this subdivision (4) may be waived where the Department determines that because of exceptional and unusual experi- ence and skill or because of other unusual qualifications, the applicant (B) Type of vessel the applicant requests license to operate. (C) Waters on which applicant requests license to operate. (D) Statement as to physical defects. (E) Statement of experience and training in vessel operation.

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