Like it or not, paddlers are subject to state and federal boating regulations that are sometimes put in place by people with a limited understanding of paddlesports. ACA makes sure that the voice of paddlers is represented as state and federal boating agencies make regulatory decisions.
One regulatory issue paddlers frequently face is canoe and kayak registration. Periodically, state legislators and/or boating law administrators consider potentially burdensome canoe and kayak registration requirements. Some of the proposals considered recently would have required paddlers to register and number every canoe and kayak they own. The ACA has worked hard to defeat these proposals, and has been successful in several states. You can review the ACA's stance on canoe and kayak registration here.
Paddlers also face other potential boating regulations, such as life jacket carriage/wearage requirements, canoe and kayak titling requirements, manufacturing standards, lighting and visibility requirements, mandatory education, and access restrictions.
Working in conjunction with local paddling clubs, ACA makes sure that the voice of paddlers is represented as state and federal boating agencies make regulatory decisions. As part of these efforts, ACA is a member of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). ACA staff members serve on three NASBLA Committees: (1) Paddlesports, (2) Numbering and Titling, and (3) Waterways Management.
The ACA is also an active member of the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), and works closely with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on boating safety and regulation issues.
Paddlers who need the ACA’s assistance in addressing a proposed or existing boating regulation can send an email to stewardship@americancanoe.org or call the ACA Director of Stewardship and Public Policy at (703) 451-0141 ext. 20.
