Text: HF02240 Text: HF02242 Text: HF02200 - HF02299 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.6A, subsection 4, Code 1999, is 1 14 amended to read as follows: 1 15 4. A sailboard.However, the registration decal shall be1 16attached to the bottom surface of the bow.1 17 Sec. 3. Section 462A.9, subsection 6, Code 1999, is 1 18 amended to read as follows: 1 19 6. a.EveryThe owner or operator of each vessel shall 1 20 provide that the vessel carry at least one life preserver, 1 21 life belt, ring buoy, or other device,of the sortas 1 22 prescribed by the rules of the commission, for each passenger, 1 23 so placed as to be readily accessible. This does not apply to 1 24 a vessel which is a racing shell used in the sport of sculling 1 25 or to a sailboard while used for windsurfing. 1 26 b. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft unless 1 27 each person aboard is wearing an approved personal flotation 1 28 device as prescribed by rule of the commission. 1 29 Sec. 4. Section 462A.9, Code 1999, is amended by adding 1 30 the following new subsection: 1 31 NEW SUBSECTION. 6A. The owner of each personal watercraft 1 32 registered in the state shall affix a proper operation decal 1 33 on the personal watercraft in a location that is clearly 1 34 visible to a person sitting in the position of the operator. 1 35 The department shall provide proper operation decals to county 2 1 recorders. The county recorders shall provide a proper 2 2 operation decal to each owner of a personal watercraft when 2 3 the watercraft is registered and assigned an identification 2 4 number. If the proper operation decal is lost, mutilated, or 2 5 becomes illegible, the owner shall obtain a new decal as soon 2 6 as possible from a county recorder or the department. 2 7 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 462A.9A WATERCRAFT SAFETY COURSES 2 8 – CERTIFICATION REQUIRED. 2 9 The department shall establish a watercraft safety course 2 10 approved by the commission not later than January 15, 2001. 2 11 The watercraft safety course shall be administered by the 2 12 department. A person who is eleven years of age or older may 2 13 enroll in an approved watercraft safety course, but a person 2 14 who is eleven years of age and who has successfully completed 2 15 the course shall only be issued a certificate of completion 2 16 which becomes valid on the person's twelfth birthday. The 2 17 department may use other organizations and volunteers for 2 18 assistance in designing and implementing the watercraft safety 2 19 course. The watercraft safety course shall include all 2 20 watercraft including personal watercraft in its curriculum. 2 21 Each person who successfully completes an approved watercraft 2 22 safety course shall be issued a watercraft safety certificate. 2 23 However, a person under eighteen years of age shall not be 2 24 issued a certificate of completion without the consent of a 2 25 parent or guardian. The initial watercraft safety certificate 2 26 shall be issued without a fee. A duplicate watercraft safety 2 27 certificate shall be issued upon request upon payment of a fee 2 28 of five dollars. 2 29 Sec. 6. Section 462A.12, subsection 1, Code 1999, is 2 30 amended to read as follows: 2 31 1.NoA person shall not operate any vessel, or manipulate 2 32 any water skis, surfboard, or similar device in a careless, 2 33 reckless, or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, 2 34 limb, or property of any person. A person shall not operate a 2 35 personal watercraft in a manner that causes the personal 3 1 watercraft to become airborne while the personal watercraft 3 2 crosses the wake of another vessel within one hundred feet of 3 3 the other vessel. 3 4 Sec. 7. Section 462A.12, subsection 6, Code 1999, is 3 5 amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu 3 6 thereof the following: 3 7 6. a. (1) As used in this paragraph "a", the term 3 8 "vessel" does not include "personal watercraft". 3 9 (2) Except as provided in paragraph "b", an owner or 3 10 operator of any vessel propelled by a motor of more than ten 3 11 horsepower, including an owner of a boat livery, shall not 3 12 permit any person under twelve years of age to operate the 3 13 vessel unless accompanied in or on the same vessel by a 3 14 responsible person of at least eighteen years of age. 3 15 However, commencing January 1, 2003, a person who is twelve 3 16 years of age or older but less than eighteen years of age 3 17 shall not operate any vessel propelled by a motor of more than 3 18 ten horsepower unless the person has successfully completed an 3 19 approved watercraft safety course and has a watercraft safety 3 20 certificate in immediate possession or is accompanied in or on 3 21 the same vessel by a responsible person of at least eighteen 3 22 years of age. 3 23 b. An owner or operator of any personal watercraft, 3 24 including an owner of a boat livery, shall not permit any 3 25 person under fourteen years of age to operate the personal 3 26 watercraft unless accompanied in or on the same personal 3 27 watercraft by a responsible person of at least eighteen years 3 28 of age. However, commencing January 1, 2003, a person who is 3 29 fourteen years of age or older but less than eighteen years of 3 30 age shall not operate any personal watercraft unless the 3 31 person has successfully completed an approved watercraft 3 32 safety course and has a watercraft safety certificate in 3 33 immediate possession or is accompanied in or on the same 3 34 personal watercraft by a responsible person of at least 3 35 eighteen years of age. 4 1 c. Watercraft safety certificates from an approved course 4 2 in another state or foreign nation shall meet the requirements 4 3 of this section. A person required to have a watercraft 4 4 safety certificate shall carry and shall exhibit the 4 5 certificate upon request of an officer of the department. 4 6 Sec. 8. Section 462A.12, Code 1999, is amended by adding 4 7 the following new subsections: 4 8 NEW SUBSECTION. 12. A person operating a personal 4 9 watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type 4 10 engine cutoff switch shall attach the lanyard to the person's 4 11 body, clothing, or personal flotation device as appropriate 4 12 for the specific personal watercraft. 4 13 NEW SUBSECTION. 13. A person shall not operate a personal 4 14 watercraft at any time between sunset and eight a.m. 4 15 NEW SUBSECTION. 14. A person shall not chase or harass 4 16 wild animals as defined in section 481A.1, while operating a 4 17 personal watercraft. 4 18 EXPLANATION 4 19 This bill includes the following requirements and 4 20 restrictions regarding the operation of various types of 4 21 vessels: 4 22 1. A personal watercraft is defined as a vessel, under 16 4 23 feet in length, which is propelled by a water jet pump or 4 24 similar machinery and is designed to be operated by a person 4 25 sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel. 4 26 2. The operator of a personal watercraft is required to 4 27 wear an approved personal flotation device. 4 28 3. The department of natural resources is required to make 4 29 proper operation decals for all personal watercraft and the 4 30 owner is responsible for affixing the decal on the personal 4 31 watercraft where it is clearly visible to the operator. The 4 32 county recorders are responsible for distributing the decals 4 33 when the personal watercraft is registered. 4 34 4. The department of natural resources shall establish a 4 35 watercraft safety course which shall include personal 5 1 watercraft curriculum not later than January 15, 2001. A 5 2 watercraft safety certificate shall be issued without fee upon 5 3 successful completion of the course. A $5 fee shall be 5 4 charged for a duplicate certificate. 5 5 5. A person under 12 years of age shall not operate a 5 6 vessel propelled by a motor of more than 10 horsepower unless 5 7 accompanied by a responsible person of at least 18 years of 5 8 age. However, commencing July 1, 2003, a person who is at 5 9 least 12 years of age but less than 18 years of age shall not 5 10 operate a vessel which is propelled by a motor of more than 10 5 11 horsepower unless accompanied by a responsible person of at 5 12 least 18 years of age or unless the person under 18 years of 5 13 age has successfully completed an approved watercraft safety 5 14 course and has a watercraft safety certificate in the person's 5 15 immediate possession. 5 16 6. An owner or operator of a personal watercraft, 5 17 including the owner of a boat livery, shall not permit a 5 18 person under 14 years of age to operate a personal watercraft 5 19 unless accompanied by a responsible person of at least 18 5 20 years of age. On or after July 1, 2003, a person who is 14 5 21 years of age or older but less than 18 years of age shall not 5 22 operate a personal watercraft unless the person has 5 23 successfully completed an approved watercraft safety course 5 24 and has a watercraft safety certificate in the person's 5 25 immediate possession, or unless the person is accompanied on 5 26 the same vessel by a responsible person of at least 18 years 5 27 of age. 5 28 7. The owner or operator of each vessel shall provide that 5 29 the vessel carry at least one life preserver, life belt, ring 5 30 buoy, or other device as prescribed by rules of the commission 5 31 for each passenger, which is placed to be readily accessible. 5 32 This requirement does not apply to a racing shell or sailboard 5 33 used for wind surfing. 5 34 8. The registration and capacity numbers are no longer 5 35 required to be displayed on the bottom surface of a sailboat 6 1 bow. 6 2 9. Personal watercraft shall not be operated in a manner 6 3 which will cause the personal watercraft to become airborne 6 4 while crossing the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of 6 5 the other vessel. 6 6 10. Lanyard is defined as a cord, rope, or wire, which 6 7 connects an operator with a motorized vessel and is designed 6 8 to stop the motor when disconnected. 6 9 11. A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by 6 10 the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cutoff is required 6 11 to attach the lanyard to the operator's body, clothing, or 6 12 personal flotation device as appropriate. 6 13 12. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft at 6 14 any time after sunset and before eight a.m. of the following 6 15 day. 6 16 13. A person shall not chase or harass wild animals as 6 17 defined in section 481A.1 while operating a personal 6 18 watercraft. 6 19 A violation of this bill is a simple misdemeanor punishable 6 20 by a fine of not less than $50 but not more than $500. The 6 21 court may also order imprisonment of not more than 30 days in 6 22 lieu of or in addition to a fine. 6 23 LSB 6177YH 78 6 24 tj/cf/24.1
Text: HF02240 Text: HF02242 Text: HF02200 - HF02299 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
© 2000 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments about this site or page?
webmaster@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.
Last update: Tue Feb 22 03:35:19 CST 2000
URL: /DOCS/GA/78GA/Legislation/HF/02200/HF02241/000211.html
jhf