Boating season will begin for many people this weekend, and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Boating Safety Unit wants to be sure all boaters know the rules. A recent development requires all boat operators between 16 and 35 years old to have a California Boater’s Education Card in their possession. Kids between the ages of 12 and 15 cannot operate a boat with a motor of more than 15 horsepower unless an attentive and sober adult is with them. Boats need a fire extinguisher, a sounding device and a throwable flotation device, as well as a life jacket for each person aboard. Children under 13-years-old always need to wear a life jacket unless the boat is anchored or moored. That doesn’t apply if the child is inside a cabin. Lots of boating safety information is available at the Sheriff’s Office on Park Marina Circle in Redding or Bridge Bay at Lake Shasta, or online at dbw.ca.gov.