Last year Virginia had a banner year for boating accidents - the number of boat injuries and boat accidents fell to a two-decade low, due in part to the high prices of gasoline. However, this year gas levels have dropped and boat accident numbers are already on the rise even early in summer. As of June 16, Virginia officials had already recorded 51 boating accidents and ten boating fatalities - twice as many fatalities as there were this time last summer.

Safety officials and marine police hope that a few new laws will help reduce boating injuries as the season continues - beginning on July 1, for example, those under 20 will need a boating safety certificate in order to operate a jet ski.

Still, not all laws are heeded. An inspection of 140 boats in the Hampton area revealed that 15 percent of boaters were in violation of at least one boating law.