Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph today announced that a new boater-safety law is now in effect. Boat owners in Orange County and across the State of Florida will receive vessel registration discounts if they equip their boats with an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Position Location Beacon (PLB).
The new law, which took effect on July 1, was prompted after two fourteen-year-olds, Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen, went missing from Jupiter Inlet last July. The law was sponsored by Rep. MaryLynn Magar (Tequesta) and Senate President Designee Joe Negron (Stuart).
“As a father, my heart goes out to the families of the two young boys whose lives were lost,” said Tax Collector Scott Randolph, whose office issues vessel registrations. “I’m hopeful that something good can come from this tragic incident, and I encourage every boat owner in Orange County and across the state to equip their boats with these potentially life-saving devices.”
Under the new law, boat owners will be eligible to receive annual vessel discounts of up to $22.62, depending on the size of their vessel, if they purchase and register an emergency locator device. In order to receive the discount, registrants must register their locator device with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) then provide proof to the Tax Collector’s Office (for a list of our seven Orange County Locations, visit www.octaxcol.cbmstage.com).
There are currently more than 22,000 vessels in Orange County. More than half of those are private vessels 16-25 feet in length, which are eligible for an annual $3.92 discount. In 2015, there were more than 900,000 vessels registered statewide.
Vessel Classification, Fee Discounts and Number of Registered Vessels in Orange County
| Vessel
Classification |
Vessel Length | Current Fee | Reduced Fee | Fee Reduction Savings | No. of Registered Vessels in Orange |
| Class A-1 | Less than 12 Ft | $5.50 | $4.24 | $1.26 | 5,458 |
| Class A-2 | 12 to less than 16 Ft | $16.25 | $13.77 | $2.48 | 3,758 |
| Class 1 | 16 to less than 26 Ft | $28.75 | $24.83 | $3.92 | 12,499 |
| Class 2 | 26 to less than 40 Ft | $78.25 | $68.56 | $9.69 | 796 |
| Class 3 | 40 to less than 65 Ft | $127.75 | $112.31 | $15.44 | 137 |
| Class 4 | 65 to less than 110 Ft | $152.75 | $134.41 | $18.34 | 4 |
| Class 5 | 110 or more in length | $189.75 | $167.11 | $22.64 | 2 |
