f you’re a Florida boat rental operator, you're probably aware that the Florida Boating Safety Act of 2022 (SB 606) went into effect on January 1, 2023, and that there are new requirements you’ve got to comply with. The new, stricter rules requires rental operators to gather more comprehensive information about their renters including:
- Full name, Date of Birth and Address of the renter
- Number of passengers who will be aboard the rental
- Emergency contact information
For more details about the law and why it was created, check it out here.
"Is there an easy way for me to comply with SB606?" you ask?
The answer is yes. BookingCentral’s new Pre-Check In feature helps you gather renter and participant information without affecting the online booking flow and store check-in. With the Pre-Check In, the booking platform automatically notifies your customers to provide the necessary information after the booking is completed and before the customer arrives for the rental or activity.
Pre-Check In items can easily be customized to meet your business needs and be compliant with the state laws for renting out your equipment, including the new law in Florida (SB 606). Pre-Check In items can include:
- Renter and participant information
- Emergency Contact information
- Waivers
- Document uploads such as driver license and insurance documents
Your customers can be automatically reminded of missing Check-In items by email and/or text. Additionally, you can quickly see if any of the Pre-Check In items are missing on your Dashboard or at Check-in on the day of their rental or activity.
The Pre-Check In feature, combined with other BookingCentral features such as Check In/Check Out, 2-way Texting and Broadcast Messaging will make it very easy for you to be compliant with SB 606.
Note that the Boating Safety Act also requires you to keep the information collected for each booking on file for at least a year; the Pre-Check In feature ensures that all pertinent information for every renter stays with the booking for easy access.
Make sure your boat or watersports rental business is compliant with your state laws. Contact us today to learn how your business can comply without adding additional work.
