1997 Minnesota Statutes

     86B.313 Personal watercraft regulations. 

    Subdivision 1.    General requirements.  In addition to 
 requirements of other laws relating to watercraft, it is 
 unlawful to operate or to 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 sunset and 8:00 a.m.; 

    (3) within 100 feet of a shoreline, dock, swimmer, or 
 swimming diving raft or a moored, anchored, or nonmotorized 
 watercraft at greater than slow-no wake speed; 

    (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 100 feet of the other watercraft; or 

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

    Subd. 2.    Age of operator.  Except in the case of an 
 emergency, a person under the age of 13 years may not operate or 
 be permitted to operate a personal watercraft, regardless of 
 horsepower.  It is unlawful for the owner of a personal 
 watercraft to permit the personal watercraft to be operated 
 contrary to this subdivision. 

    Subd. 3.    Operator's permit.  Except in the case of an 
 emergency, a person 13 years of age or over but less than 18 
 years of age may not operate a personal watercraft, regardless 
 of horsepower, without possessing a valid watercraft operator's 
 permit as required by section 86B.305, unless there is a person 
 18 years of age or older on board the craft.  In addition to the 
 permit requirement, a person 13 years of age operating a 
 personal watercraft must maintain unaided observation by a 
 person 18 years of age or older.  It is unlawful for the owner 
 of a personal watercraft to permit the personal watercraft to be 
 operated contrary to this subdivision. 

    Subd. 4.    Dealers and rental operations.  (a) A dealer 
 of personal watercraft shall distribute a summary of the laws 
 and rules governing the operation of personal watercraft and, 
 upon request, shall provide instruction to a purchaser regarding:

    (1) the laws and rules governing personal watercraft; and 

    (2) the safe operation of personal watercraft. 

    (b) A person who offers personal watercraft for rent: 

    (1) shall provide a summary of the laws and rules governing 
 the operation of personal watercraft and provide instruction 
 regarding the laws and rules and the safe operation of personal 
 watercraft to each person renting a personal watercraft; and 

    (2) shall provide a United States Coast Guard approved Type 
 I, II, III, or V personal flotation device and any other 
 required safety equipment to all persons who rent a personal 
 watercraft at no additional cost. 

    HIST: 1991 c 225 s 3; 1992 c 573 s 4; 1993 c 219 s 1; 1996 c 
 396 s 4