HF 4006

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/03/2022 02:05pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying personal watercraft operation requirements;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 86B.313, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, 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 wearable personal
flotation device that is approved by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and has a USCG
label indicating the flotation device either is approved for or does not prohibit use with
personal watercraft;

deleted text begin (2) between one hour before sunset and 9:30 a.m.;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end 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;

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end 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;

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end 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;

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end 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;

deleted text begin (7) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end to chase or harass wildlife;

deleted text begin (8) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end through emergent or floating vegetation at other than a slow-no wake speed;

deleted text begin (9) deleted text end new text begin (8) new text end 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
backward;

deleted text begin (10) deleted text end new text begin (9) new text end in any other manner that is not reasonable and prudent; or

deleted text begin (11) deleted text end new text begin (10) new text end 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 deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end , 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.