Text: HF00607 Text: HF00609 Text: HF00600 - HF00699 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 462A.2, Code 1999, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsections: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 12A. "Lanyard" means a cord, rope, or 1 4 wire which connects an operator to a motorboat or motorized 1 5 vessel and is designed to stop the motor when disconnected. 1 6 NEW SUBSECTION. 22A. "Personal watercraft" means a 1 7 vessel, less than sixteen feet in length, which is propelled 1 8 by a water jet pump or similar machinery as its primary source 1 9 of motor propulsion and is designed to be operated by a person 1 10 sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than being 1 11 operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling inside the 1 12 vessel. 1 13 Sec. 2. Section 462A.2, subsection 15, Code 1999, is 1 14 amended to read as follows: 1 15 15. "Motorboat" means any vessel propelled by machinery, 1 16 whether or not such machinery is the principal source of 1 17 propulsion, or vessel propelled attached to another craft 1 18 which is propelled by machinery. "Motorboat" includes a 1 19 personal watercraft. 1 20 Sec. 3. Section 462A.6A, subsection 4, Code 1999, is 1 21 amended to read as follows: 1 22 4. A sailboard.However, the registration decal shall be1 23attached to the bottom surface of the bow.1 24 Sec. 4. Section 462A.9, subsection 6, Code 1999, is 1 25 amended to read as follows: 1 26 6. a.EveryThe owner or operator of each vessel shall 1 27 provide that the vessel carry at least one life preserver, 1 28 life belt, ring buoy, or other device,of the sortas 1 29 prescribed by the rules of the commission, for each passenger, 1 30 so placed as to be readily accessible. This does not apply to 1 31 a vessel which is a racing shell used in the sport of sculling 1 32 or to a sailboard while used for windsurfing. 1 33 b. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft unless 1 34 each person aboard is wearing an approved personal flotation 1 35 device as prescribed by rule of the commission. 2 1 Sec. 5. Section 462A.9, Code 1999, is amended by adding 2 2 the following new subsection: 2 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 6A. The owner of each personal watercraft 2 4 registered in the state shall affix a proper operation decal 2 5 on the vessel in a location that is clearly visible to a 2 6 person sitting in the position of the operator. The 2 7 department shall provide proper operation decals to county 2 8 recorders. County recorders shall provide a proper operation 2 9 decal to each owner of a personal watercraft when the 2 10 watercraft is registered and assigned an identification 2 11 number. If the proper operation decal is lost, mutilated, or 2 12 becomes illegible, the owner shall obtain a new decal as soon 2 13 as possible from a county recorder or the department. 2 14 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 462A.9A WATERCRAFT SAFETY COURSES 2 15 – CERTIFICATION REQUIRED. 2 16 The department shall establish a watercraft safety course 2 17 approved by the commission not later than January 15, 2000. 2 18 The watercraft safety course shall be administered by the 2 19 department. A person who is eleven years of age or older may 2 20 enroll in an approved watercraft safety course, but a person 2 21 who is eleven years of age and who has successfully completed 2 22 the course shall only be issued a certificate of completion 2 23 which becomes valid on the person's twelfth birthday. The 2 24 department may use other organizations and volunteers for 2 25 assistance in designing and implementing the watercraft safety 2 26 course. The watercraft safety course shall include all 2 27 watercraft including personal watercraft in its curriculum. 2 28 Each person who successfully completes an approved watercraft 2 29 safety course shall be issued a watercraft safety certificate. 2 30 However, a person under eighteen years of age shall not be 2 31 issued a certificate of completion without consent of a parent 2 32 or guardian. The initial watercraft safety certificate shall 2 33 be issued without a fee. A duplicate watercraft safety 2 34 certificate shall be issued upon request upon payment of a fee 2 35 of five dollars. 3 1 Sec. 7. Section 462A.12, subsection 1, Code 1999, is 3 2 amended to read as follows: 3 3 1.NoA person shall not operate any vessel, or manipulate 3 4 any water skis, surfboard, or similar device in a careless, 3 5 reckless, or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, 3 6 limb, or property of any person. A person shall not operate a 3 7 personal watercraft in a manner that causes the personal 3 8 watercraft to become airborne while the personal watercraft 3 9 crosses the wake of another vessel within one hundred feet of 3 10 the other vessel. 3 11 Sec. 8. Section 462A.12, subsection 6, Code 1999, is 3 12 amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu 3 13 thereof the following: 3 14 6. An owner or operator of any vessel propelled by a motor 3 15 of more than ten horsepower, including an owner of a boat 3 16 livery, shall not permit any person under twelve years of age 3 17 to operate the vessel unless accompanied in or on the same 3 18 vessel by a responsible person of at least eighteen years of 3 19 age. However, commencing January 1, 2002, a person who is 3 20 twelve years of age or older but less than eighteen years of 3 21 age shall not operate any vessel propelled by a motor of more 3 22 than ten horsepower unless the person has successfully 3 23 completed an approved watercraft safety course and has a 3 24 watercraft safety certificate in immediate possession or is 3 25 accompanied in or on the same vessel by a responsible person 3 26 of at least eighteen years of age. Watercraft safety 3 27 certificates from an approved course in another state or 3 28 foreign nation will meet the requirements of this section. A 3 29 person required to have a watercraft safety certificate shall 3 30 carry and shall exhibit the certificate upon request of an 3 31 officer of the department. A violation of this subsection is 3 32 a simple misdemeanor as provided in section 462A.13. 3 33 Sec. 9. Section 462A.12, Code 1999, is amended by adding 3 34 the following new subsections: 3 35 NEW SUBSECTION. 12. A person operating a personal 4 1 watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type 4 2 engine cutoff switch shall attach the lanyard to the person's 4 3 body, clothing, or personal flotation device as appropriate 4 4 for the specific personal watercraft. 4 5 NEW SUBSECTION. 13. A person shall not operate a personal 4 6 watercraft at any time between sunset and eight a.m. 4 7 NEW SUBSECTION. 14. A person shall not chase or harass 4 8 wild animals while operating a personal watercraft. 4 9 EXPLANATION 4 10 This bill includes the following requirements and 4 11 restrictions regarding the operation of various types of 4 12 vessels: 4 13 1. A personal watercraft is defined as a vessel, under 16 4 14 feet in length, which is propelled by a water jet pump or 4 15 similar machinery and is designed to be operated by a person 4 16 sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel. A motorboat is 4 17 also defined to include personal watercraft. 4 18 2. The operator of a personal watercraft is required to 4 19 wear an approved personal flotation device. 4 20 3. This bill provides that the department make proper 4 21 operation decals for all personal watercraft and that the 4 22 owner is responsible for affixing the decal on the vessel 4 23 where it is clearly visible to the operator. The county 4 24 recorders are responsible for distributing the decals when the 4 25 watercraft is registered. 4 26 4. The department of natural resources shall establish a 4 27 watercraft safety course which shall include personal 4 28 watercraft curriculum. A watercraft safety certificate shall 4 29 be issued without fee upon successful completion of the 4 30 course. A five dollar fee shall be charged for a duplicate 4 31 certificate. 4 32 5. A person under 12 years of age shall not operate a 4 33 vessel propelled by a motor of more than 10 horsepower unless 4 34 accompanied by a responsible person of at least 18 years of 4 35 age. However, commencing January 1, 2002, a person who is at 5 1 least 12 years of age but less than 18 years of age shall not 5 2 operate a vessel which is propelled by a motor of more than 10 5 3 horsepower unless accompanied by a responsible person of at 5 4 least 18 years of age or unless the person under 18 years of 5 5 age has successfully completed an approved watercraft safety 5 6 course and has a watercraft safety certificate in immediate 5 7 possession. 5 8 6. The owner or operator of each vessel shall provide that 5 9 the vessel carry at least one life preserver, life belt, ring 5 10 buoy, or other device as prescribed by rules of the commission 5 11 for each passenger, which is placed to be easily accessible. 5 12 This requirement does not apply to a racing shell or sailboard 5 13 used for wind surfing. 5 14 7. The registration and capacity numbers are no longer 5 15 required to be displayed on the bottom surface of a sailboat 5 16 bow. 5 17 8. Personal watercraft shall not be operated in a manner 5 18 which will cause the personal watercraft to become airborne 5 19 while crossing the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of 5 20 the other vessel. 5 21 9. Lanyard is defined as a cord, rope, or wire, which 5 22 connects an operator with a motorized vessel and is designed 5 23 to stop the motor when disconnected. 5 24 10. A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by 5 25 the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cutoff is required 5 26 to attach the lanyard to the operator's body, clothing, or 5 27 personal flotation device as appropriate. 5 28 11. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft at 5 29 any time after sunset and before eight a.m. of the following 5 30 day. 5 31 12. A person shall not chase or harass wild animals while 5 32 operating a personal watercraft. 5 33 LSB 1085HV 78 5 34 tj/sc/14
Text: HF00607 Text: HF00609 Text: HF00600 - HF00699 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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