The county sheriff’s offices conduct a large portion of Minnesota’s boating safety activities through a supplemental grant program facilitated through the DNR by the U.S. Coast Guard. In addition to existing patrol operations, water patrol duties may focus on: boating while intoxicated, personal watercraft operation, careless and reckless operation, speed and wake violations, use of navigation lights and other equipment and registration violations.
This successful program has been making waterways safer for over 30 years, concentrating on areas of high boat use. It currently involves 71 county sheriff’s departments concentrating their efforts in heavily used areas, including nighttime patrols.
Resources
- Boat and Water Safety Grants
- St. Croix River no wake zone
- Non-Watercraft Accident Report Form
- Watercraft Accident Report Form – Contact Terri Roesler
- Rental craft information – Contact Terri Roesler
- Life savings awards
- Talking points – Use these resources to support traffic safety education and enforcement efforts. Contact Lisa Dugan.
- Early boating and cold water
- Holidays & boating under the influence
- General boating and swim safety
- Waterfowl safety
- ATV, snowmobile, and firearms safety
- Publications
- Statistics
Summary of recent boating statutes and rule changes
| Statute / Rule No. | Amendment | Effective Date |
| 86B.101, 86B.305, 86B.313 Subd 2, 86B.313 Subd. 3 | Repealed sections | July 1, 2025 |
| 86B.30, 86B.302, 86B.303, 86B.304, 86B.306, 86B.1065 | Definition changes and updates. New statutes. Watercraft operator's permit, operating personal watercraft, youth operators, motorboat rental businesses. | July 1, 2025 |
| 86B.313 Subd. 4 | Amended personal watercraft regulations. | July 1, 2025 |
| 86B.005, 86B.415 | 86B.005, Subd. 11a. Definitions were added to define "Other commercial operation." 86B.415 License Fees. - watercraft license fees updated. | January 1, 2024 |
| 169A, 169A.36, 169A.40, 169A.44 | 169A - New cannabis laws. This does not include motorboats in operation or off-road recreational vehicles except while operated on a roadway or shoulder of a roadway. 169A.36 Open Package Law added. Effective August 1, 2023 169A.40, Subd. 3 Arrest Powers new language. 169A.44, Subd. 3 Conditional release, new language. | August 1, 2023 |
| 86B.331,86B.33, 86B.705, 169A.20, 169A.52, 169A.54, 169A.55, 169A.60, 169A.63 | Changes to operating while impaired. 86B.331 was repealed and replaced with new statute, 86B.33. 169A.52 and 169A.54 – new subdivisions added. 169A.55, 169A.60 and 169A.63 were all amended. | July 1, 2021 |
| 169A.63, Subd. 13 | Interlock exemptions added | July 1, 2019 |
| 169A.03, 169A.20, 169A.45, 169A.51, 169A.52, 169A.76 | Changes more fully incorporate snowmobiles, ATVs and motorboats in operation into the DWI laws. | August 1, 2018 |
| 86B.005, Subd. 4a and 4b, Subd. 8a, 86B.532 Subd. 1-5 | Addition of Sophia’s Law. Explanation of terms. Carbon monoxide detectors and warning stickers required in some boats. | May 1, 2018 |
Education and training
Boat and Water Safety sponsors schools or classes annually on various subjects. Instructors are DNR personnel, county sheriff's deputies and other specialists. We attempt to get POST credit for most classes. There is no charge for DNR classes. Attendee covers travel costs, meals and lodging except where specifically noted. Notification is sent to the counties on all of these classes and registration is usually done via e-mail.
2025 scheduled classes:
| Title | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Boating Safety Enforcement | April 28 – May 2, 2025 | Dates usually the first or second week in May - notices will be sent in April. |
| Motorboat Noise Enforcement | TBD | Training is held at Hennepin County Water Patrol. Contact Lt. Eric Sullivan to register and for more details. |
Metro boat and water meetings:
| Date | Notes |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | Off |
| February 6, 2025 | At Hennepin County |
| March 2025 | Off |
| April 10, 2025 | At Ramsey County |
| May 8, 2025 | At Hennepin County |
| June 12, 2025 | At Ramsey County |
| July 10, 2025 | At Hennepin County |
| August 14, 2025 | At Ramsey County |
| September 2025 | Off |
| October 9, 2025 | At Hennepin County |
| November, 2025 | Off |
| December 11, 2025 | At Ramsey County |
Boat & Water Safety Team
Capt. Adam Block - 651-259-5057 - Boating Law Administrator
- Program Overview
- Grant and reporting advice
- Technical assistance in all areas
- Audit reconciliation
- Legislation/rules
- Liaison with Sheriff's Association on boat and water safety
- Liaison with other states and USCG
- Water surface use management program – lake and river zoning
- Awards program coordination
- Marine event coordination
- St. Croix Slow no-wake monitoring
- Boat and water safety grants
- Ice and cold water safety communication and educational campaigns
- Statewide and local safety outreach
- Media contact for ice safety
- Boat and water safety communications and education campaigns
- Media coordination, talking points and best practices
- Boat and water education and training program assistance
- Existing or proposed PSAs, education materials & promotion items for outreach events
Terri Roesler - 651-259-5364 - Boat and Water Safety Admin., Accident and Report Specialist
- Accident reporting, records and stats, report forms
- Noise meter loan requests
- General boat and water safety questions
- Publication orders, including test packets (large quantity)
- Federal Activity Report for counties
Our address is:
Boat and Water Safety
Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Road
Saint Paul, MN 55155-4047
Request Materials: [email protected](please be sure to include your name and address)
DNR Information Center: 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367