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For Immediate Release Contact: Brian Berry, 202-777-3524
September 14, 2007
Jennifer Hall, 202-777-3503
PWIA Honors Virginia Boating Chief Charlie Sledd With 2007 Boating Safety Leadership Award
WASHINGTON, DC - The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) is pleased to announce that Virginia Boating Law Administrator Charlie Sledd was presented with its 2007 Boating Safety Leadership Award during the 48th Annual National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) conference in Burlington, Vt. Charlie Sledd is the first to receive this new PWIA annual award that recognizes a single boating law administrator who has made great strides in the boating law community throughout the year.
PWIA is a longtime member and supporter of NASBLA. The personal watercraft industry works across the country with state boating law administrators advocating for all or parts of its model legislation to be adopted. This model bill includes mandatory boater education for all personal watercraft (PWC) operators, minimum age requirements, sunset curfews and other provisions.
"This award is in appreciation for Charlie's hard work this past year to make Virginia's boating laws stronger," said Maureen Healey, executive director of PWIA. "His dedication and outstanding leadership in securing passage of a boating education requirement in the state helps keep boating one of America's greatest pastimes."
Sledd was instrumental in the passage of Virginia's new boater education law, which will be implemented in July 2008. It is a phased-in law that will require all motorboat and PWC operators in the Commonwealth, regardless of age, to pass a NASBLA-approved course. Beginning in 2009, the first phase of younger operators will be required to pass a course. By 2012, every PWC operator will have to meet the requirement, and by 2016, every motor boater in the state will be required to be in compliance with the law.
"The personal watercraft industry has been one of our biggest champions behind boater education," said Charlie Sledd. "We share the same belief that an educated boater is a more responsible, safety conscious operator. I am very honored by the industry's recognition and look forward to continue working with them."
Sledd is also the Boating Safety Director for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology Education and a Master of Science in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. Sledd began his career with VDGIF in 1974 as a district fisheries biologist and has held a number of senior management positions. He was appointed as the Virginia Boating Law Administrator in January 2000.
About PWIA
PWIA represents the four manufacturers of personal watercraft: American Honda Motor Company (makers of AquaTrax®), BRP US, Inc. (makers of Sea-Doo®), Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (makers of JET SKI®) and Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. (makers of WaveRunner®). As a result of remarkable technological advancements, modern personal watercraft are up to 90 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than those produced prior to 1998. PWIA advocates for state and local governments to implement reasonable guidelines such as mandatory boating safety education for PWC users, a minimum age of 16 to operate a PWC (18 to rent), use only during daylight hours, the establishment of no-wake zones, and strict enforcement of boating safety and navigation laws. Model legislation and other information on personal watercraft can be viewed at www.pwia.org.
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