SF 2371

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.