If you see any violations or unsafe conduct:
Please take pictures and/or video and report them to the Wright and/or Stearns County Sheriff’s Water Patrol Department. Please try to get the Boat or JetSki Licence Number and Driver in Photo/Video (if possible). Report this incident as soon as possible to:
Wright County Water Patrol Officer:
Drew.Scherber@co.wright.mn.us Direct Phone: (763) 684-4534
Starting on July 1, 2025, a new Minnesota law will require some adults and youth who operate motorboats—including personal watercraft—to have a valid watercraft operator’s permit. People who already have a watercraft operator’s permit are not affected by the law, which is designed to make boating safer by ensuring everyone operating a motorized watercraft knows the rules and is properly trained. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
New Boater Education Law
Effective Date : July 1 , 2025
Adult operators:
· Permit requirement: Some adults (defined below) will need a valid operator’s permit to drive any motorboat or personal watercraft starting July 1, 2025.
· Exemptions: Some adults are exempt from this requirement. Check the law for specific exemptions.
· Supervised operation: People without a permit still can operate a boat, but only if there’s an accompanying operator (defined below) onboard.
Young operators:
· Restrictions on high-powered watercraft: Young operators (people less than 12 years old), can’t operate a personal watercraft or any motorboat with a motor over 75 horsepower.
· Low-powered motorboats: Young operators can operate a motorboat that’s not a personal watercraft and has a motor under 75 horsepower as long as there is an accompanying operator in the motorboat.
Who is considered an adult operator?
Is 12 years old or older, and was born after these dates:
June 30, 2004 (starts July 1, 2025)
June 30, 2000 (starts July 1, 2026),
June 30, 1996 (starts July 1, 2027,
June 30, 1987 (starts July 1, 2028).
This means people born after June 30, 2004, will need a permit to operate a watercraft.
SIGN UP NOW to take the watercraft operator’s permit course:
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/education.html.