About Us

The California Boating Safety Officers Association was established in 1973 by a small group of officers that saw a need to improve the training and interaction between all of California's Boating Safety Officers. We have grown annually since then.  All Boating Safety Officers are invited to join us and are encouraged to participate in our training symposiums.

You can do so with an application right through this site.

As of 2013, our roster includes 350 officers from over one hundred fifty agencies and organizations.

 

Services provided to our members: 

• CBSOA hosts one annual three-day training symposium in the Spring of each year and one or two one-day symposiums throughout the rest of the year. 

• A newsletter, THE BEACON, which contains information about the association, an update of statewide training programs, and general news of interest to our membership is published four times per year. 

• Our Membership Roster is issued annually then updated in THE BEACON. 

• We also monitor and lobby for or against legislation that deals with boating safety issues. 

Our past accomplishments include: 

• Being the lead in legislation that revamped California's Boating Under the Influence laws to more closely align with the Vehicle Code.

• Creating the first Boating Accident Investigation Writing Template in the country

• Sponsoring legislation that made ski flag use mandatory in California.
   

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