Is Minnesota's boating safety law riding the wave toward success?

Minnesotans who enjoyed time out on the lakes this summer might have noticed a difference in boater etiquette.

Backers of a relatively new law said training requirements could be making a splash in keeping waterways safer. In July 2025, Minnesota began requiring teens and some adults to take a training course and earn an operator's permit before driving a watercraft. State data show boating fatalities are down significantly this summer compared to previous years.

Gabriel Jabbour, a longtime marina owner in the Minnetonka Bay area who closely follows this issue, likes what he sees.

"The lake is a little more under control and the behavior is a lot more reasonable than it has been," Jabbour explained.

Jabbour acknowledged higher fuel prices might be influencing the numbers by creating less boat traffic. Still, he is a big believer in the new law and hopes water recreation groups around the state embrace it.

The permit requirement is for operators 12 and up, with a phased-in timeline for certain adults. Currently, it applies to those born after June 30, 2000. So far, nearly 50,000 online versions of the course have been taken. The Department of Natural Resources said it is too early to draw conclusions, citing other possible factors.

Phil Rollins recently completed a long tenure on the Bay Lake Improvement Association's board of directors in north central Minnesota. Rollins agreed it might take some time to get a true sense of the certification program's effectiveness but he sees promise.

"We have both young and older people driving very powerful boats on Bay Lake and I am very hopeful that the certification program will help make the lake safer than it probably is now," Rollins emphasized.

Rollins recently worked with local law enforcement on facilitating tests in his jurisdiction and 20 youth participated. He believes it is tailor-made to keep them engaged and know the rules but would like to see more adults fall under the requirement, noting risky boating behavior is not just seen with younger ages.

The group Minnesota Lakes and Rivers pushed for the new law, pointing out responsibly driven wake boats minimize the risk of shoreline erosion and lakebed disruption.