New Law Regulates Boating and Jet Skis
For boaters under age 26 looking to get away
on the North Carolina waters next spring, be sure you've completed a
boating safety education course prior to motoring off.
The state's General Assembly recently enacted legislation requiring
anyone under the age of 26 to have completed such a course prior to
operating a vessel with a 10-horsepower motor or greater on the
public waters. This includes personal water craft also referred to
as PWCs or simply as jet skis.
Section One of Senate Bill 43 clearly states any vessel with more
than a 10 horsepower has to adhere to the new laws.
So for those under age 26, they need to pass a boating safety course
instituted by the Wildlife Resources Commission or another boating
safety course that is approved by the National Association of State
Boating Law Administrators and accepted by the Wildlife Resources
Commission by May 1, 2010.
The courses accepted by the commission
include the About Boating Safely and the Boating Skills and
Seamanship courses offered by the United States Coast Guard
Auxiliary.
Stokes said some Dare County youngsters have
already taken a boating safety course offered at elementary and
middle schools.
The second section of the new law deals with more specific rules for
personal water craft.
Operating a jet ski is totally different than driving a boat. In
general, personal water craft accelerate faster and like boats,
don't have brakes. But one of the main differences between boats and
PWCs has to do with steering.
Where most boats including sailboats maintain steerage at low
speeds, jet skis lose most of the steering when the throttle is
released. To regain steering, they have to be powered-up again.
The second section in the new law states that in most cases, no one
under age 16 can operate a PWC on state waters. It's also clear that
if a parent allows a child under 16 to operate the jet ski, they,
too, would be violating the new law.
Riders ages 16 and 17 who have passed the boating safety course can
ride by themselves.
And the law provides that "a person of at least 14 years of age but
under 16 years of age may operate a personal watercraft on the state
waters if the person is accompanied by a person of at least 18 years
of age who physically occupies the watercraft" and who has passed a
boating safety class.
If you're 13 or younger, forget driving a PWC, said Chris Hueber, a
captain in the enforcement division.
"No one under age 14, period [can operate a jet ski]," he said.
A second part deals with documentation. The PWC operator is required
to have proof of age and, or a boating safety certification card on
their person and to produce the documents upon request from from a
wildlife officer or local law enforcement agency.
And another part of the law deals with rentals of jet skis, a wildly
popular water sport on the Outer Banks for several decades.
In addition, the renter also has to meet the age 26 or older
requirement or have proof of taking the boater safety and be age 16
or older. To add to the paperwork, if the renter wants to let
another qualified operator drive, each one is required to sign the
leasing agreement and, or waiver, Hueber said.
Hueber said the new laws will be enforced on all public waters.
For person who has rented a jet ski, they need to carry proof of
age, proof of safety class and the rental agreement on their person
while riding on a personal watercraft.
For information on auxiliary class schedules on the northern beaches
of Dare County, call Todd Warlitner at 252-480-3072. In Cape
Hatteras, call Howard Rooney at 252-986-1437.
Additional information is also available at
http://www.ncwildlife.org.