PERSONAL WATERCRAFT LAW

"Personal watercraft" means a power vessel less than 16 feet in length, and which:

• is designed to be operated from a sitting, standing or kneeling position;
• is equipped with an internal combustion engine which powers a water jet pump; and
• cannot be operated in a manner so as to disengage the pump so as to prevent the vessel from making headway.

Restrictions on operation of personal watercraft

In the District, an operator may not jump the wake of another vessel within 100 yards of the vessel. When two or more personal watercraft are operating at a speed of 10 mph or greater, drivers must maintain a separation of at least 25 yards between the personal watercraft.

Requirements for operator of personal watercraft

A person operating a personal watercraft shall at all times:

• Wear the safety switch lanyard while the PWC is underway, provided that the personal watercraft is equipped with such a lanyard cut-off device; and
• Proceed at a safe speed that shall allow the person operating the personal watercraft to take proper and effective action to avoid collision and to stop the PWC within a safe distance, as may be appropriate under prevailing circumstances and conditions.
• A person operating a PWC or any passenger on a PWC shall at all times when the personal watercraft is underway, wear a USCG Approved Type I, II, III, or Type V Hybrid life jacket.

Personal watercraft owner's liabilities In addition to all other remedies permitted and duties required by law, the owner of a personal watercraft shall be jointly liable for damage incurred by another person operating the owner's personal watercraft if the owner knowingly allows the person to operate the owner's personal watercraft, the operator has not successfully completed a required boat safety course or an administered written test and the operator is not exempt from the boat safety certificate requirements.

Conditions for operation of personal watercraft without completion of boat safety course

A person who is 16 years of age or older may operate a personal watercraft without having completed a boat safety course a written test under the following conditions:

• the person operates the personal watercraft within the boundaries of an area designated solely for the operation of personal watercraft by a business engaged in renting personal watercraft for use on the waters of the State;
• the area designated for such operation is supervised by a person who is experienced in the operation of personal watercraft and who has successfully completed an approved boat safety course; and
• the person has successfully completed an instruction course provided by the owner or lessee of the personal watercraft prior to operating the personal watercraft within the designated area.

For the first 21 days following the purchase of a personal watercraft, provided that: (1) the operator of the personal watercraft is the person who purchased the personal watercraft or a member of that person's immediate family; (2) the operator of the personal watercraft is at least 16 years of age; (3) the personal watercraft that has been purchased is the only personal watercraft being operated pursuant to this subsection; (4) the seller of the personal watercraft has provided educational materials regarding the safe operation of the personal watercraft at the time of sale; and (5) the purchaser and the seller of the personal watercraft have signed a certificate acknowledging that the information required pursuant to paragraph 4 of this subsection has been provided by the seller and received by the purchaser at the time of purchase of the personal watercraft.

• The person has written proof, while operating the personal watercraft, of successful completion of a boat safety course substantially similar to the boat safety course required.
• The person does not own a personal watercraft and the owner of the personal watercraft possesses a certificate showing the successful completion of a boat safety course;
• the owner of the personal watercraft instructs the owner in the proper operation of the personal watercraft;
• the person is accompanied by the owner of the personal watercraft and they remain within 150 feet and in sight of each other;
• the cumulative number of days of operation by a person under this subsection does not exceed five days during a calendar year; and

A person who violates this rule is subject to a penalty of not less than $200 and not more than $500 for each violation.