HF 404

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:37am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying personal watercraft operational
requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 86B.313, subdivision
1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 86B.313, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

General requirements.

(a) In addition to requirements of other laws
relating to watercraft, a person may not operate or permit the operation of a personal
watercraft:

(1) without each person on board the personal watercraft wearing a United States
Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device;

(2) between one hour before sunset and 9:30 a.m. new text begin , unless the personal watercraft is
equipped with proper navigational lights as prescribed by the commissioner new text end ;

(3) at greater than slow-no wake speed within 150 feet of:

(i) a shoreline;

(ii) a dock;

(iii) a swimmer;

(iv) a raft used for swimming or diving; or

(v) a moored, anchored, or nonmotorized watercraft;

(4) while towing a person on water skis, a kneeboard, an inflatable craft, or any
other device unless:

(i) an observer is on board; or

(ii) the personal watercraft is equipped with factory-installed or factory-specified
accessory mirrors that give the operator a wide field of vision to the rear;

(5) without the lanyard-type engine cutoff switch being attached to the person,
clothing, or personal flotation device of the operator, if the personal watercraft is equipped
by the manufacturer with such a device;

(6) if any part of the spring-loaded throttle mechanism has been removed, altered, or
tampered with so as to interfere with the return-to-idle system;

(7) to chase or harass wildlife;

(8) through emergent or floating vegetation at other than a slow-no wake speed;

(9) in a manner that unreasonably or unnecessarily endangers life, limb, or property,
including weaving through congested watercraft traffic, jumping the wake of another
watercraft within 150 feet of the other watercraft, or operating the watercraft while
facing backwards;

(10) in any other manner that is not reasonable and prudent; or

(11) without a personal watercraft rules decal, issued by the commissioner, attached
to the personal watercraft so as to be in full view of the operator.

(b) Paragraph (a), clause (3), does not apply to a person operating a personal
watercraft to launch or land a person on water skis, a kneeboard, or similar device by the
most direct route to open water.