DOT delays changes to unaccompanied minors policy on Alaska ferries

Recently announced changes to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities policy regarding unaccompanied minors on the Alaska Marine Highway System have been put on hold after "numerous Alaskans" expressed concerns about upcoming holiday travel, DOT wrote in a press release.

For now, the DOT will require children under 12 years old to be accompanied by someone 19 or older, and 12- to 15-year-olds to be accompanied by an adult or have written permission from a parent or guardian, DOT wrote.

DOT said authorization forms are available at FerryAlaska.com or at AMHS.

Sixteen and 17-year-olds have no restrictions.

The policy, announced last week and originally expected to take effect Nov. 20, would have required all children under 18 to travel with a "parent, legal guardian or a person of at least 18 years of age who possesses notarized authorization from the child's parent or legal guardian," DOT said.

DOT spokesperson Jeremy Woodrow said DOT will continue to review the policy and still intends to update it, although a "timeframe of when this might happen is not confirmed."

"The current policy does create an element of risk for unaccompanied minors, and the state's intentions are to reduce this risk and create a safer environment for children aboard the AMHS," said Woodrow.

DOT said any future policy will be announced "several weeks prior to implementation."

Megan Edge

Megan Edge is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News.

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