All-Star Deviny's Law

[that'showirol.]

Hi guys we all know what a great impact the cheerleading community can have in getting things done! You all have heard about the loss of Rock Solid's beloved Deviny. Below is a link to a petition for Deviny's Law. The law is to basically increase the age at which you are allowed to get a license to operate a watercraft. you can read all about the law on this website. Please help us out and sign the petition, the creators have a meeting on wednesday morning to get the ball rolling for the law. They are hoping to have 1,000 signatures by then! Your support is greatly apprecieated!

Please help us to change the boating licensing laws and education requirements in honor of Deviny.
We have a meeting on Wednesday to get this in motion and we need 1000 signatures on the petition. We currently have 600+ signatures.
Below is the direct link to the petition. Click of this and sign before August 1, 2012

http://www.change.org/petitions/deviny-s-law-increase-the-age-and-requirements-necessary-to-operate-any-watercraft

 

[Nikaa]

signed!

 

[AZCheerMom]

Signed! I can't believe this is not already a law in place. What are the age requirements now? I will be emailing this link to all my family and friends as well. Good Luck!!!

 

[mccracal]

I honestly fail to understand the rationale behind most of this petition. Florida already has a law that requires that anyone under 17 take a boating education course and carry a designated ID. The young man who was driving the boat, aged 15, had neglected to do any such training. While Deviny's death was certainly tragic, the age requirements proposed by this petition seem to be more reactionary than practical. If I'm perhaps missing evidence that demonstrates that properly trained young adults under the age of 16 are causing a disproportionate share of accidents, then please show them to me, and I'll gladly support the cause.

 

[RSbrittany]

I honestly fail to understand the rationale behind most of this petition. Florida already has a law that requires that anyone under 17 take a boating education course and carry a designated ID. The young man who was driving the boat, aged 15, had neglected to do any such training. While Deviny's death was certainly tragic, the age requirements proposed by this petition seem to be more reactionary than practical. If I'm perhaps missing evidence that demonstrates that properly trained young adults under the age of 16 are causing a disproportionate share of accidents, then please show them to me, and I'll gladly support the cause.

The course that you have to take is an online course that gives no instruction on how to actually operate a boat I could go et my boaters license tomorrow but I would have no clue on how to actually drive a boat! They are meeting to tweak some things such as proper training and everything.

 

[alliebby33]

The course that you have to take is an online course that gives no instruction on how to actually operate a boat I could go et my boaters license tomorrow but I would have no clue on how to actually drive a boat! They are meeting to tweak some things such as proper training and everything.

I got my boater's license when I was 11. I took a 5 day class at the marina we dock our boat at which included a few hours a day of classroom time as well as a few hours a day of on-the-water instruction. We learned how to sail small sailboats, got to drive a big sailboat, kayaked, drove little boats with small motors (less than 10 horsepower) and learned how to canoe. While I already pretty much knew how to drive a boat seeing as I basically grew up on boats, this class helped me with the actual knowledge and laws of boating.

I do think it is impractical to require people to be 16 to get their boater's license, however I absolutely agree with trying to change the age of being able to pull someone on a tube or skis to 16/17. I know tons of kids who boat/tube/ski safely when they are 16 or older. If kids are in college, they should be able to handle boating with their friends safely.

I think that, instead of raising the age, a hands-on boating course should have to be taken in addition to the online test.

The whole situation with Deviny was unsafe. They were not properly educated, they were in the rain, they were probably hyped up on adrenaline because they took the boat without permission. Please don't think I'm trying to downplay everything that happened because I still feel awful about the whole thing and have been praying for everyone involved, but I think that there were many more factors that went into play besides being only 15 years old.

What also came to mind was cheer coaching qualifications. A coach can become "qualified" to coach a certain level (however I don't know how difficult the testing is) BUT that doesn't mean they're going to take all the safety precautions and put all the knowledge to use when they actually get back in the gym.

 

[njallday]

i have a nj boater's license. because i live in a beach town, it is required in our school's curriculum, just like drivers' ed. While I love the idea of it being in our curriculum - and think that should maybe be implemented in similar towns in Fl. and nationwide - the actual class taught me just about nothing.

2 police officers taught the course, which consisted of some powerpoints and reading. we had a manual with a test at the end. the test was open book. it was almost impossible to fail, if you wanted to pass. now 8 years later, the only thing i vaguely remember is to honk your horn every 2 minutes or so in heavy fog.

i love the idea of the law, and will sign the petition... but it's very hard to implement boating laws because they are not enforced. this may just create another unenforceable law. however, if it can save one life it will be worth it.

 

[cheerKT]

I will sign. Off topic, but can anyone tell me how you pronounce her name? I think it's so pretty.

 

[SmileCat]

cheerKT Dev-in-e

 

[cheermom5678]

Illinois boating licenses require an 8 hour class, and you must pass the test.

My hear is broken for Deviny and her family, but sometimes, an accident is just an accident.