as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to watercraft; requiring the use of personal 1.3 flotation devices by persons being towed by a 1.4 watercraft; restricting the speed of watercraft in 1.5 certain areas; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 1.6 sections 86B.311, by adding a subdivision; and 1.7 86B.315, by adding a subdivision. 1.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.9 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 86B.311, is 1.10 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 1.11 Subd. 6. [SPEED LIMITS.] A person may not operate a 1.12 watercraft on the waters of this state at greater than slow-no 1.13 wake speed within 150 feet of: 1.14 (1) a shoreline; 1.15 (2) a dock; 1.16 (3) a swimmer; 1.17 (4) a raft used for swimming or diving; or 1.18 (5) a moored, anchored, or nonmotorized watercraft. 1.19 This subdivision does not apply to a person operating a 1.20 watercraft to launch or land a person on water skis, a 1.21 kneeboard, or similar device by the most direct route to open 1.22 water. 1.23 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 86B.315, is 1.24 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 1.25 Subd. 3. [PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE REQUIRED.] A person 1.26 may not operate a watercraft on the waters of this state and tow 2.1 a person on water skis, a kneeboard, an aquaplane, a surfboard, 2.2 a saucer, a tube, or a similar device unless the person being 2.3 towed is wearing a United States Coast Guard approved Type I, 2.4 II, or III personal flotation device. This subdivision does not 2.5 apply to a person who is providing or preparing to provide a 2.6 water skiing demonstration for commercial entertainment.