KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Florida may be one step closer to getting a new boater safety law.
On Wednesday, Florida House lawmakers unanimously passed a bill inspired by Lucy Fernandez, a South Florida teenager killed in a crash more than two years ago.
One sponsor of the bill, Rep. Vanessa Oliver, was tearful on the House floor as she thanked the Fernandez family.
“They’ve turned the unimaginable pain of losing the daughter into purpose for greater safety on the waters,” she said.
On Labor Day weekend 2022, a 29-foot center console with 11 other girls onboard crashed into a channel marker off Elliott Key.
At the helm was developer George Pino, who is now facing felony vessel homicide for the incident.
Investigators on scene reported no suspicion of intoxication, despite discovering more than 60 empty alcohol bottles in the vessel.
Pino has pleaded not guilty.
Lucy’s Law, as HB-289 is known, would increase penalties for reckless boating and mandate boater education.
Current Florida law only requires people born on or after 1988 to complete a boating safety course.
Statistics show more than 80% of operators involved in fatal crashes had no boater education.