Author: By the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation

29MAY

Grace period to register recreational vehicles extended until end of June

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, in consultation with Gov. Brad Little, asked law enforcement agencies to suspend enforcement of 2020 registrations for recreational vehicles until July 1.

A current grace period was set to expire at the end of May. The extension allows the department time to complete the transition to a new registration system, which ultimately will give customers the ability to easily buy or renew registrations online, at county motor vehicle offices or at retail vendors.

Registration sales were paused, as planned, for most of April to allow the transition from the old system to the new one, including migrating the data of nearly 320,000 customers. The COVID-19 outbreak complicated the transition when it closed county motor vehicle offices, which traditionally handled half of the registrations.

This pause and shutdowns created a backlog of customers wanting to register, renew or get help, overloading the department’s phone lines. 

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience, and please know we’re working hard to improve the website sales and to get the county offices and retailers selling again,” said Tammy Kolsky, the department’s manager of registrations and reservations.

The department continues to refine the registration website, making it easier to use — and more than 10,000 customers have successfully bought or renewed registrations for boats, off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles with it. 

In coming weeks, the department anticipates bringing the local motor vehicle offices and hundreds of retail vendors back online, giving customers more purchasing options.

Customers who call the department for assistance and are placed on hold have the option to leave a call-back number, which Kolsky suggests they use. Whether a customer leaves a call-back number or remains on hold, they have the same place in line and will be serviced in the order in which they called.

02JUL

Idaho Parks and Recreation reminds parents that state law requires kids to wear life vests

Officials from Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation would like to remind parents about Idaho’s life jacket law for kids. According to Idaho law, kids 14 years and younger are required to wear a life jacket on all vessels 19 feet or less, when the vessel is underway.

“County marine deputies have reported numerous instances around the state the past couple years where kids without life jackets are out boating with parents in small motor boats and paddle craft,” said David Dahms, IDPR boating program manager.

Idaho’s life jacket law applies to all vessels, including those with a motor and all paddle craft such as rafts, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, row boats and drift boats. Dahms also notes that life jackets must be Coast Guard-approved and be properly fitted.

Kids without a life jacket may be in immediate danger if they fall in the water because of the year-round cold-water conditions prevalent in many of Idaho’s rivers and lakes. Adult operators of a vessel that do not comply with the kids’ life jacket law are subject to a $99 citation.

IDPR strongly encourages all kids and adults to wear a life jacket while boating on any sized vessel. For more information on how to properly fit a life jacket for a child or to get a listing of legally required safety information for your vessel, visit boatidaho.gov.

02JUL

Idaho Parks and Recreation reminds parents that state law requires kids to wear life vests

Officials from Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation would like to remind parents about Idaho’s life jacket law for kids. According to Idaho law, kids 14 years and younger are required to wear a life jacket on all vessels 19 feet or less, when the vessel is underway.

“County marine deputies have reported numerous instances around the state the past couple years where kids without life jackets are out boating with parents in small motor boats and paddle craft,” said David Dahms, IDPR boating program manager.

Idaho’s life jacket law applies to all vessels, including those with a motor and all paddle craft such as rafts, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, row boats and drift boats. Dahms also notes that life jackets must be Coast Guard-approved and be properly fitted.

Kids without a life jacket may be in immediate danger if they fall in the water because of the year-round cold-water conditions prevalent in many of Idaho’s rivers and lakes. Adult operators of a vessel that do not comply with the kids’ life jacket law are subject to a $99 citation.

IDPR strongly encourages all kids and adults to wear a life jacket while boating on any sized vessel. For more information on how to properly fit a life jacket for a child or to get a listing of legally required safety information for your vessel, visit boatidaho.gov.