1. (1) The court shall require any person convicted of a criminal violation of this chapter, any person convicted of a noncriminal infraction under this chapter if the infraction resulted in a reportable boating accident, and any person convicted of a noncriminal infraction as defined in ¹s. 327.73(1)(f) through (n), excepting (j), to:

   1. (a) Enroll in and successfully complete, at his or her own expense, a boating safety course that meets minimum standards established by the department by rule;
   2. (b) File with the court and the department within 90 days proof of successful completion of the course;
   3. (c) Refrain from operating a vessel until he or she has filed the proof of successful completion of the course with the court and the department. Any person who has successfully completed an approved boating course shall be exempt from these provisions upon showing proof to the court and the department as specified in paragraph (b).

2. (2) For the purposes of this section, "conviction" means a finding of guilt, or the acceptance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of whether or not adjudication was withheld or whether imposition of sentence was withheld, deferred, or suspended. Any person who operates a vessel on the waters of this state in violation of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

   ¹Note.--Section 327.73(1)(f) through (n) was redesignated as s. 327.73(1)(h)-(p), including paragraph (j) which was redesignated as paragraph (l), by s. 60, ch. 96-413.

History.--s. 7, ch. 88-133; s. 49, ch. 91-224; s. 465, ch. 95-148; s. 4, ch. 96-187.