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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 vessel in a location that is clearly visible to a 1 34 person sitting in the position of the operator. The 1 35 department shall provide proper operation decals to county 2 1 recorders. County recorders shall provide a proper operation 2 2 decal to each owner of a personal watercraft when the 2 3 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, 2000. 2 11 The watercraft safety course shall be administered by the 2 12 department. The department may use other organizations and 2 13 volunteers for assistance in designing and implementing the 2 14 watercraft safety course. The watercraft safety course shall 2 15 include all watercraft including personal watercraft in its 2 16 curriculum and shall be taught in at least twelve counties 2 17 commencing no later than January 15, 2000. Not later than 2 18 January 15, 2002, the watercraft safety course shall be taught 2 19 in at least one-half of the counties in this state. Each 2 20 person who successfully completes an approved watercraft 2 21 safety course shall be issued a watercraft safety certificate. 2 22 The initial watercraft safety certificate shall be issued 2 23 without a fee. A duplicate watercraft safety certificate 2 24 shall be issued upon request upon payment of a fee of five 2 25 dollars. 2 26 Sec. 6. Section 462A.12, subsection 1, Code 1999, is 2 27 amended to read as follows: 2 28 1.NoA person shall not operate any vessel, or manipulate 2 29 any water skis, surfboard, or similar device in a careless, 2 30 reckless, or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, 2 31 limb, or property of any person. A person shall not operate a 2 32 personal watercraft in a manner that causes the personal 2 33 watercraft to become airborne while the personal watercraft 2 34 crosses the wake of another vessel within one hundred feet of 2 35 the other vessel. 3 1 Sec. 7. Section 462A.12, subsection 6, Code 1999, is 3 2 amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu 3 3 thereof the following: 3 4 6. a. An owner or operator of any vessel propelled by a 3 5 motor of more than six horsepower, including an owner of a 3 6 boat livery, shall not permit any person under twelve years of 3 7 age to operate the vessel unless accompanied by a responsible 3 8 person of at least eighteen years of age. However, commencing 3 9 July 1, 2002, a person who is twelve years of age or older but 3 10 less than eighteen years of age shall not operate any vessel 3 11 propelled by a motor of more than six horsepower unless 3 12 accompanied by a responsible person of at least eighteen years 3 13 of age or unless the person under eighteen years of age has 3 14 successfully completed an approved watercraft safety course 3 15 and has a watercraft safety certificate in immediate 3 16 possession. Watercraft safety certificates from an approved 3 17 course in another state or foreign nation will meet the 3 18 requirements of this section. A person required to have a 3 19 watercraft safety certificate shall carry and shall exhibit 3 20 the certificate upon request of an officer of the department. 3 21 A violation of this paragraph is a simple misdemeanor as 3 22 provided in section 462A.13. 3 23 b. After July 1, 2000, an owner or operator of a personal 3 24 watercraft, including an owner of a boat livery, shall not 3 25 permit any person who is under twelve years of age to operate 3 26 a personal watercraft unless accompanied by a responsible 3 27 person of at least eighteen years of age. A person who is 3 28 twelve years of age or older but less than eighteen years of 3 29 age shall not operate a personal watercraft unless accompanied 3 30 by a responsible person of at least eighteen years of age or 3 31 unless the person under eighteen years of age has successfully 3 32 completed an approved watercraft safety course and has a water 3 33 safety certificate in immediate possession. Watercraft safety 3 34 certificates from an approved course in another state or 3 35 foreign nation will meet the requirements of this section. A 4 1 person required to have a watercraft safety certificate shall 4 2 carry and shall exhibit the certificate upon request of an 4 3 officer of the department. A violation of this paragraph is a 4 4 simple misdemeanor as provided in section 462A.13. 4 5 Sec. 8. Section 462A.12, Code 1999, is amended by adding 4 6 the following new subsections: 4 7 NEW SUBSECTION. 12. A person operating a personal 4 8 watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type 4 9 engine cutoff switch shall attach the lanyard to the person's 4 10 body, clothing, or personal flotation device as appropriate 4 11 for the specific personal watercraft. 4 12 NEW SUBSECTION. 13. A person shall not operate a personal 4 13 watercraft at any time between sunset and eight a.m. 4 14 NEW SUBSECTION. 14. A person shall not chase or harass 4 15 wild animals while operating a personal watercraft. 4 16 Sec. 9. Section 462A.26, subsection 3, paragraph a, 4 17 subparagraph (2), Code 1999, is amended by striking the 4 18 subparagraph and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 4 19 (2) Motorboats or personal watercraft shall maintain a 4 20 minimum passing or meeting distance of one hundred feet when 4 21 both vessels are traveling at speeds greater than five miles 4 22 per hour on public lakes or reservoirs or on the Mississippi 4 23 or Missouri river. A minimum passing or meeting distance of 4 24 fifty feet shall be maintained when motorboats and personal 4 25 watercraft are traveling at speeds over five miles per hour on 4 26 other rivers and streams. 4 27 EXPLANATION 4 28 This bill includes the following requirements and 4 29 restrictions regarding the operation of various types of 4 30 vessels: 4 31 1. A personal watercraft is defined as a vessel, under 16 4 32 feet in length, which is propelled by a water jet pump or 4 33 similar machinery and is designed to be operated by a person 4 34 sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel. 4 35 2. The operator of a personal watercraft is required to 5 1 wear an approved personal flotation device. 5 2 3. This bill provides that the department make proper 5 3 operation decals for all personal watercraft and that the 5 4 owner is responsible for affixing the decal on the vessel 5 5 where it is clearly visible to the operator. The county 5 6 recorders are responsible for distributing the decals when the 5 7 watercraft is registered. 5 8 4. The department of natural resources shall establish a 5 9 watercraft safety course which shall include personal 5 10 watercraft curriculum and be taught in at least 12 counties 5 11 not later than January 15, 2000. Not later than January 15, 5 12 2002, the watercraft safety course shall be taught in at least 5 13 one-half of the counties. A watercraft safety certificate 5 14 shall be issued without fee upon successful completion of the 5 15 course. A five dollar fee shall be charged for a duplicate 5 16 certificate. 5 17 5. A person under 12 years of age shall not operate a 5 18 vessel propelled by a motor of more than six horsepower unless 5 19 accompanied by a responsible person of at least 18 years of 5 20 age. However, commencing July 1, 2002, a person who is at 5 21 least 12 years of age but less than 18 years of age shall not 5 22 operate a vessel which is propelled by a motor of more than 5 23 six horsepower unless accompanied by a responsible person of 5 24 at least 18 years of age or unless the person under 18 years 5 25 of age has successfully completed an approved watercraft 5 26 safety course and has a watercraft safety certificate in 5 27 immediate possession. 5 28 6. After July 1, 2000, an owner or operator of a personal 5 29 watercraft, including the owner of a boat livery, shall not 5 30 permit a person under 12 years of age to operate a personal 5 31 watercraft unless accompanied by a responsible person of at 5 32 least 18 years of age or unless the person who is 12 years of 5 33 age or older or less than 18 years of age has successfully 5 34 completed an approved watercraft safety course and has a 5 35 watercraft safety certificate in immediate possession. 6 1 7. The owner or operator of each vessel shall provide that 6 2 the vessel carry at least one life preserver, life belt, ring 6 3 buoy, or other device as prescribed by rules of the commission 6 4 for each passenger, which is placed to be easily accessible. 6 5 This requirement does not apply to a racing shell or sailboard 6 6 used for wind surfing. 6 7 8. The registration and capacity numbers are no longer 6 8 required to be displayed on the bottom surface of a sailboat 6 9 bow. 6 10 9. Personal watercraft shall not be operated in a manner 6 11 which will cause the personal watercraft to become airborne 6 12 while crossing the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of 6 13 the other vessel. 6 14 10. Lanyard is defined as a cord, rope, or wire, which 6 15 connects an operator with a motorized vessel and is designed 6 16 to stop the motor when disconnected. 6 17 11. A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by 6 18 the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cutoff is required 6 19 to attach the lanyard to the operator's body, clothing, or 6 20 personal flotation device as appropriate. 6 21 12. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft at 6 22 any time after sunset and before eight a.m. of the following 6 23 day. 6 24 13. A person shall not chase or harass wild animals while 6 25 operating a personal watercraft. 6 26 14. Motorboats or personal watercraft shall maintain a 6 27 minimum passing or meeting distance of 100 feet when both 6 28 vessels are traveling at speeds of more than five miles per 6 29 hour on public lakes or reservoirs or on the Mississippi or 6 30 Missouri river. A minimum passing or meeting distance of 50 6 31 feet shall be maintained when motorboats or personal 6 32 watercraft are traveling at speeds over five miles per hour on 6 33 other rivers and streams. 6 34 LSB 1085DP 78 6 35 tj/sc/14.2
Text: SSB01026 Text: SSB01028 Text: SSB01000 - SSB01099 Text: SSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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