Is it true I do not need to have my drivers license with me for MP
 

I am of the belief that I am not required to have my drivers license with me or am required to show it to any MP agent if just for boat inspection or if writing a ticket. Of course I need the boating license but I am specifically only questioning the Drivers license


I believe it's just like out walking and pedal biking, I only have to inform them of my full name and town I reside in.


Please, no comments or replies about why would you not, or why make hard time, etc. All that you can open a post for, I am only looking to get some peoples reading of the actual requirements.


Thanks for anyone with more specific information on this

I got pulled over last year and he asked me for a lot of items. I am pretty sure my drivers license was one of the items requested.


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Id
 

It is used as a second form of ID to match with your boating license, otherwise you can carry anyone's boating license as they do not have a picture or address on them

You are not required to have a Drivers License to operate a boat in NH. You only need a New Hampshire Safe Boating Certificate. They can certainly ask you to show them one, but since you are not required to have one there would be no penalty for not producing one.

Exemptions

New Hampshire accepts the following certificates or licenses in lieu of the New Hampshire Safe Boating Certificate.

A boating certificate issued by another state agency and NASBLA approved.
A boating certificate issued by the U.S. Power Squadrons.
A boating certificate issued by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
An unexpired commercial boating license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard.
An unexpired commercial boating license issued by the state of New Hampshire.

While there may be no "REQUIREMENT" to present your driver's license when asked by the NHMP.... you can certainly expect much closer scrutiny and a much longer stop they will try to verify your identity.

In the mind of most Law Enforcement types... the only reason not to produce a valid photo ID is because you are hiding something...

Woodsy

You do
 

The first thing to point out is Marine Patrol Officers are not "agents," they are Police Officers (peace officers for the definition below) part of the NH State Police. As for your license, you do not need to have a license to operate a boat (you need your certificate as you stated), but you do need to provide identification. If you don't have it with you, the Marine Patrol can escort you back to wherever you have it if they don't think you are being forthright.

From NH RSAs:
270:12-b Disobeying an Officer. –
I. No person, while operating or otherwise in charge of a vessel, raft, or float of any kind, type, or character or an amphibian or pontoon aircraft under step speed shall:
(a) Knowingly refuse, when requested by a peace officer or agent of the director, to give his name, address, and date of birth, and the name and address of the owner of the vessel, raft, float or amphibian or pontoon aircraft of any kind, type, or character;
(b) Knowingly refuse, on demand of a peace officer or agent of the director, to sign his name in the presence of such officer or agent;
(c) Knowingly refuse, on demand of a peace officer or agent of the director, to produce some means of positive identification such as a driver's license, passport, or other document, or to verify his identity by some other means so that the identity of the operator or person otherwise in charge of a vessel can be determined with reasonable certainty by such peace officer or agent of the director

I don't carry my wallet (which has my DL) with me when I am on my Sea Doo PWC. Obvious reasons, don't want to lose it, and no need to carry it since it is not required in the state of NH. If I do get pulled over and asked to show proof of identity, MP is going to have to follow me back to the ramp, however far away that might be, and wait for me to tie up (or beach my PWC), walk up to my truck and grab my wallet.

I suspect that unless I have committed a serious infraction, they will take my word for it.

And before you ask, yes I keep my boating certificate with the registration for the PWC in a secure location on board.

So...

Will we be getting the "rest of the story"? :rolleye2:

BTW, Welcome to the Forum.

Chip, you dont have a glove box or other compartment on your Seadoo? You must. I throw my wallet and my phone (in a padded holder) in my glove box so I have money or credit cards if needed. I broke down once and was glad to have a phone with me. I also have a waterproof bag that other items could go in for the main storage compartment. Not calling you out but I'm sure there would be a place to carry one if you wanted. To each his own.:laugh:

If you have to carry a boaters card, why not just carry a license as well and avoid the potential problem? If you lose your drivers license you have to turn it in, but they don't require your boater card to go back although at that point it would be illegal to drive a boat.

A friend just got popped on Ossippee for being on a pwc without a boaters card, I will ask him if he had a DL at that time.

Photocopies Aboard
 

We carry photocopies of our boating certificates and our driver's licenses aboard each of our boats. We do not carry our wallet or purseaboard. 🐻

Maybe I missed it in this thread but your drives license cannot but under revocation for any reason boating license or not.

Ditto. At the beginning of each season, I assemble a zip-lock sandwich bag for each of our water craft. In it I place photocopies of boat and drivers licences for all members of our household. We've never had to use them, but I believe they are acceptable in most circumstances. As others have stated above, if they do not work, I keep the originals in the house and would need to have the officer follow me back to produce them.

With multiple boats, usually used while wearing bathing suits (often wet), carrying the originals doesn't work well for us.

Does that preclude a non-driver from operating a boat? I know some people that live in the city that don't bother to drive a car.

Not totally off topic, but you can order multiple boating certificates. So, you can have an original in each boat.


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You do not need a driver's license, only identification. The confusion is because most people use their driver's license for identification. You can use something else.

I agree with the post above. We have copies of certificates on each boat/watercraft for anyone who may operate it. I put them in a sandwich baggie. If stopped, it at least shows the effort and generates goodwill with the officer.

A Very Good "Income"...$2500 a Pop...
 

Last season, I would have had the same opinion; however, recent news should have the NHMP looking at Massachusetts drivers licenses very closely. :eek2:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...LQJ/story.html

>

Oh there is no question that I could take my DL with me. I have a small dry box in my storage compartment that my wallet would fit into. I just see the need to carry it. As long as it is not required (which it is not), I won't carry my wallet on my PWC. I really don't want to have to go through the trouble if I happen to lose it. Not worth the chance IMO.

That said, I have had a visit by MP exactly once in the 15 years that I have owned a PWC. I like my odds.

I don't have a MA DL, so this story has nothing to do with me.

Police can verify your ID without a driver's license. They will ask you for more info like date of birth and address. If you have a photo ID with you that does speed up the process but as long as you are cooperative you are not likely to be detained for a minor offense.

Of course, the attitude of the people involved can affect the outcome.

Good luck!