06-03-2025
Florida boaters' rights to be protected with Boater Freedom Act
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Florida State Senator Jay Trumbull has filed Senate Bill 1388, establishing the Boater Freedom Act to protect the rights of Florida Boaters.
This act protects boaters by prohibiting Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers from stopping boats for inspections without probable cause.
'Governor DeSantis and the Legislature have built a state that promotes and protects freedom and individual liberty, and those principles should extend to Florida's waters and our responsible boating community,' Senator Trumbull said.
SB 1388 prohibits officers from boarding any vessel in Florida unless the officer has probable cause or knowledge to believe a violation has occurred or is occurring, officials wrote.
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'Florida fishermen and recreational boaters should not be randomly subjected to stops and searches when the vast majority are simply trying to enjoy a day on the beautiful waters of our great state and are not doing anything wrong. While our law enforcement officers have good intentions, this current practice, which allows them to stop and inspect any boat without cause, is infringing on the rights of Florida boaters. Too often I have heard about, or myself experienced, boats being stopped multiple times in one outing. The Boater Freedom Act will put an end to this misguided practice and ensure the Free State of Florida extends to our waterways,' Trumbull added.
Under SB 1388, probable cause would not include any actions to make a safety or marine sanitation equipment inspection. The bill also establishes that safety and marine sanitation equipment requirement violations may only be considered a secondary offense.
Additionally, the bill creates the 'Florida Freedom Boater' decal, which is issued at the time of registration or renewal. This safety decal signifies that the vessel complies with application safety equipment carriage and use requirements.
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