Bill Text: MN SF1202 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Personal watercraft navigational lights requirement
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-14 - Referred to Environment and Natural Resources [SF1202 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF1202-Introduced.html
1.2relating to natural resources; modifying personal watercraft operational
1.3requirements;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 86B.313, subdivision
1.41.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 86B.313, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1. General requirements. (a) In addition to requirements of other laws
1.8relating to watercraft, a person may not operate or permit the operation of a personal
1.9watercraft:
1.10(1) without each person on board the personal watercraft wearing a United States
1.11Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device;
1.12(2) between one hour before sunset and 9:30 a.m., unless the personal watercraft is
1.13equipped with proper navigational lights as prescribed by the commissioner;
1.14(3) at greater than slow-no wake speed within 150 feet of:
1.15(i) a shoreline;
1.16(ii) a dock;
1.17(iii) a swimmer;
1.18(iv) a raft used for swimming or diving; or
1.19(v) a moored, anchored, or nonmotorized watercraft;
1.20(4) while towing a person on water skis, a kneeboard, an inflatable craft, or any
1.21other device unless:
1.22(i) an observer is on board; or
1.23(ii) the personal watercraft is equipped with factory-installed or factory-specified
1.24accessory mirrors that give the operator a wide field of vision to the rear;
2.1(5) without the lanyard-type engine cutoff switch being attached to the person,
2.2clothing, or personal flotation device of the operator, if the personal watercraft is equipped
2.3by the manufacturer with such a device;
2.4(6) if any part of the spring-loaded throttle mechanism has been removed, altered, or
2.5tampered with so as to interfere with the return-to-idle system;
2.6(7) to chase or harass wildlife;
2.7(8) through emergent or floating vegetation at other than a slow-no wake speed;
2.8(9) in a manner that unreasonably or unnecessarily endangers life, limb, or property,
2.9including weaving through congested watercraft traffic, jumping the wake of another
2.10watercraft within 150 feet of the other watercraft, or operating the watercraft while
2.11facing backwards;
2.12(10) in any other manner that is not reasonable and prudent; or
2.13(11) without a personal watercraft rules decal, issued by the commissioner, attached
2.14to the personal watercraft so as to be in full view of the operator.
2.15(b) Paragraph (a), clause (3), does not apply to a person operating a personal
2.16watercraft to launch or land a person on water skis, a kneeboard, or similar device by the
2.17most direct route to open water.
1.3requirements;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 86B.313, subdivision
1.41.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 86B.313, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1. General requirements. (a) In addition to requirements of other laws
1.8relating to watercraft, a person may not operate or permit the operation of a personal
1.9watercraft:
1.10(1) without each person on board the personal watercraft wearing a United States
1.11Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device;
1.12(2) between one hour before sunset and 9:30 a.m., unless the personal watercraft is
1.13equipped with proper navigational lights as prescribed by the commissioner;
1.14(3) at greater than slow-no wake speed within 150 feet of:
1.15(i) a shoreline;
1.16(ii) a dock;
1.17(iii) a swimmer;
1.18(iv) a raft used for swimming or diving; or
1.19(v) a moored, anchored, or nonmotorized watercraft;
1.20(4) while towing a person on water skis, a kneeboard, an inflatable craft, or any
1.21other device unless:
1.22(i) an observer is on board; or
1.23(ii) the personal watercraft is equipped with factory-installed or factory-specified
1.24accessory mirrors that give the operator a wide field of vision to the rear;
2.1(5) without the lanyard-type engine cutoff switch being attached to the person,
2.2clothing, or personal flotation device of the operator, if the personal watercraft is equipped
2.3by the manufacturer with such a device;
2.4(6) if any part of the spring-loaded throttle mechanism has been removed, altered, or
2.5tampered with so as to interfere with the return-to-idle system;
2.6(7) to chase or harass wildlife;
2.7(8) through emergent or floating vegetation at other than a slow-no wake speed;
2.8(9) in a manner that unreasonably or unnecessarily endangers life, limb, or property,
2.9including weaving through congested watercraft traffic, jumping the wake of another
2.10watercraft within 150 feet of the other watercraft, or operating the watercraft while
2.11facing backwards;
2.12(10) in any other manner that is not reasonable and prudent; or
2.13(11) without a personal watercraft rules decal, issued by the commissioner, attached
2.14to the personal watercraft so as to be in full view of the operator.
2.15(b) Paragraph (a), clause (3), does not apply to a person operating a personal
2.16watercraft to launch or land a person on water skis, a kneeboard, or similar device by the
2.17most direct route to open water.
