Florida law now requires youthful operators of motor vessels to have in their possession photographic id and a boater safety identification card when operating a vessel within in the state of Florida. Violation of this law is a non-criminal infraction. Failure to answer a non-criminal infraction is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
Basically, the law states that a person 21 years of age or younger may not operate a vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater unless such person has in his or her possession aboard the vessel: (1) photographic identification; (2) a boater safety identification card issued by the commission which shows that he or she has:
Completed a commission approved boater education course that meets the minimum 8-hour instruction requirement established by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA);
Passed a course equivalency examination approved by the commission; or
Passed a temporary certificate examination developed or approved by the commission....
A person is exempt from if he or she:
(1) Is licensed by the United
States Coast Guard to serve as master of a vessel.
(2) Operates a vessel only on a private lake or pond.
(3) Is accompanied in the vessel by a person who is
exempt from this section or who holds an identification card in compliance with
this section, is 18 years of age or older, and is attendant to the operation of
the vessel and responsible for any violation that occurs during the operation.
(4) Is a nonresident who
has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a boater
education course or equivalency examination in another state which meets or
exceeds the requirements of subsection (1).
The above is a partial wording of the law. There are some exceptions, and time limits for non and new residents with out of state authorization. For a complete version of the law, please consult Title XXIV, Chapter 327, Section 327.395 of the Motor Vehicle Laws of Florida, "Vessel Safety." A copy of the law should be available at your local library. You may also link to the Florida Senate's statute page to see that law exactly the way it is written.
For further information on the law itself, please consult with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Do not contact the U.S. Coast Guard, as this is a state law, not federal. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is an "approved" organization to administer the boater safety course. However, the boater education identification card is issued by FWC, after receiving the course completion certificate issued by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or other approved NASBLA certificates.
For additional information or questions relating to Florida's Boater Education Law, please visit the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission's website.
ON LINE INTERNET COURSES ARE NOT APPROVED.
To receive information regarding an approved
boater safety course, or to register for a course, E-Mail
the Public Education Officer.
This law will be enforced by state, county
and local law enforcement authorities within the state of Florida. 
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