PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
"Personal watercraft" means a vessel less than 16 feet in length which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump, as its primary source of motive power and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than in the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel.
Legal operation of a PWC
- Operator must be at 14 years old. It is unlawful for the owner of any personal watercraft or any person having charge over or control of a personal watercraft to authorize or knowingly permit the same to be operated by a person under 14 years of age (a second-degree misdemeanor).
A person must be at least 18 years of age to rent a personal watercraft in Florida.
- Everyone on a PWC must wear a Type I, II, III or V life jacket as approved by the United States Coast Guard. Inflatable type life jackets are prohibited for PWC operation.
- The operator of a personal watercraft must attach the engine cutoff switch lanyard (if equipped by the manufacturer) to his/her person, clothing, or life jacket.
- A person must be at least 18 years of age to rent a PWC in Florida.
- PWC may be operated from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour past sunset.
The following PWC operator actions are classified as reckless operation of a vessel (a first-degree misdemeanor):
- Maneuvering a PWC by weaving through congested vessel traffic,
- Jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably close or when visibility around the vessel is obstructed,
- Swerving at the last possible moment to avoid collision
|
