Long Island Mom Continues Fight To Pass 'Brianna's Law'

DEER PARK, NY — Gina Lieneck has been fighting for years to get a new boating safety law passed in honor of her daughter, who was killed in a tragic accident in 2005, and she is not giving up.

The Deer Park resident has been working to pass "Brianna's Law," which would require mandatory boating safety classes for mariners of all ages.

In 2005, Brianna Lieneck, who was 11-years-old at the time, died after a boat crashed into the family craft on the Great South Bay.

While the loss was tough on her mother, she vowed to make sure another family would never have to go through a similar situation.

"Justice was never served to my daughter — her life was taken too soon — so the only gift I can give her is to make sure this doesn't happen to another family," Lieneck said. "I made a promise to her that I will do all that it takes to get this law passed. It's not just about the death of my daughter, but all the lives that have been lost on our waterways due to uneducated boaters."

According to Lieneck, currently the only ones required to take any type of boating safety class are those born after May, 1996.

"Everybody should be educated before getting on the water," she told Patch. "You shouldn't just be able to get a 30', 40', 50' boat and have no idea what the rules and regulations of the waterways are."

"Brianna's Law" would require a one day course which would teach boaters safety tips such as who would have the right of way on the water, what age groups should be wearing life jackets, etc.

Last August, the law has had success in Albany and now is awaiting Senate approval.

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This year, Lieneck is confident the law will be passed. The legislation is now being sponsored by a new senator, John Brooks, and has received support from 8 other senators.

Lieneck says she has been traveling to Albany to speak to the representatives and has received support from all over.

However, there are still some that are against the law — mainly the Marine Trade Association.

"[The Marine Trade Association] says their boat sales are going to go down which is ridiculous," she said. "So that's who i'm fighting with right now."

Lieneck still believes that there is "no logical reason" for the law not to be passed.

"Why wouldn't you want educated boaters? It makes no sense. Would you want to sell a boat to a family, or anyone for that matter, knowing that they know nothing about the waterways? They're going to kill themselves or kill somebody else," she said. "It doesn't make sense to me because money is nothing when you suffer a loss. Connecticut has strict laws and it does reduce the amount of accidents. It still happens, but it's going to do a lot to help."

The Long Island mother has turned this into her passion and is not going down without a fight.

"You can't stand up against a woman that life has given the biggest blow. I got back up and I'm not giving up," she said. "It's going to be done because this is my passion and I'm fighting until the bitter end."

There were a few senators who wanted her to make an amendment to the law, but she didn't have enough time before the session was over. So Lieneck is going to continue to go to Albany and get senators to sign.

The law passed in the assembly with flying colors with a 132-6 vote.

The Long Island community has also been behind Lieneck 100 percent.

"Everybody from the town supervisor, to the county executive has been a big asset in helping me with this," she said. "I have a lot of support from all over."

In addition to "Brianna's Law," another law to require a propeller guard on boats used to instruct children was also introduced.

State Sen. Jim Gaughran recently introduced the legislation following another tragic death of a young Long Islander. In 2017, 12-year-old Ryan Weiss was killed after he was struck by a boat propeller during a sailing lesson near the Centerport Yacht Club .

"Ryan's Law" passed in Suffolk County but officials are looking to pass the legislation statewide.

Lieneck says she is fully in support of this proposal.

"I would 100 percent support them and help them in any way that I could," she said. "I believe that law will pass. I think it's a great step in the right direction."