PUNTA GORDA — The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office recently offered the first of two free eight-hour boater safety courses to the public. Commander of CCSO Special Operations Lt. Brian Harrison said: “We had a tremendous response to our spring course and the class is full. We will offer another course this fall, which will be announced later this year. We thank all those who responded by signing up for our boater safety course. In the meantime, please contact the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary as it offers the same course.”

The Florida Legislature enacted a law that requires everyone born after Dec. 31, 1987 to take an eight-hour boating safety course and pass a test to legally operate a boat in Florida. Those born before that date are grandfathered in. Those who pass will each receive a safe boating ID card from Tallahassee that must be carried while operating a boat in Florida waters.