Validation Stickers No Longer Needed For Watercraft

As a reminder, boaters in Montana no longer need a validation decal from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

This validation was a free sticker that boat owners had to get every three years from FWP. The reason for the validation was a requirement by the U.S. Coast Guard that allowed FWP to secure federal boating safety funds. However, the Coast Guard requirements changed, and Montana was no longer compliant. Rather than ask Montana boat owners to get an annual validation, Gov. Gianforte, FWP and lawmakers decided last year to remove the requirement all together.

Along with removing the vessel validation requirement, other pieces of boating law were cleaned up, including: • Clarifying that on personal watercraft, life jackets simply need to be Coast Guard approved.

• Updating navigation and right-of-way rules to mirror those on federal waterways.

• Increasing the threshold for reporting a boating accident from $100 to $2,000.