The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced Friday it will be delaying the implementation of its upcoming unaccompanied minor policy for Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) services.
The new policy would no longer allow children under the age of 18 to travel unaccompanied on the ferry system. Currently, travelers aged 12 to 15 can show a note from their parents or legal guardians allowing them to travel alone, and no restrictions are in place for those aged 16 and older.
Exemptions to the new policy include chaperoned school and youth groups and married teens. The new rules were to be adopted for safety and legal liability reasons.
The unaccompanied minor policy was to be enforced beginning today, but implementation was postponed following a number of complaints indicating the change would upset travel plans over the holidays. The 11 ferries operated by AMHS service 35 communities across the state’s coastal region, acting as the main mode of transportation for many.
Authorization forms for allowing unaccompanied 12- to 15-year-olds to travel are still available at local ferry terminals. As it does not provide special supervision for minors, AMHS recommends finding an alternative to unaccompanied travel.
AMHS has not indicated a new date for implementation, but will announce any policy changes several weeks in advance. Additional details regarding ferry policies can be found at FerryAlaska.com and by contacting 1-907-465-3941 or 1-800-642-0066.
Reader Comments(0)