PERSONAL WATERCRAFT LAW

"Personal watercraft" means

• a boat less than sixteen feet in length which: has an outboard motor or an inboard motor which uses an internal combustion engine powering a water jet pump as its primary source of motive propulsion
• is designed with the concept that the operator and passenger ride on the outside surfaces of the vessel as opposed to riding inside the vessel;
• has the probability that the operator and passenger, in the normal course of use, may fall overboard. Personal watercraft includes, without limitation, a vessel where the operator and passenger ride on the outside surfaces of the vessel, even if the primary source of motive propulsion is a propeller, and a vessel commonly known as a "jet ski".

PWC Laws

• A person shall not operate a personal watercraft unless each person aboard is wearing a Type I, Type II, Type III, or Type V personal flotation device approved by the United States Coast Guard.
• A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard type engine cutoff switch should always attach such lanyard to his person, clothing, or flotation device as appropriate for the specific vessel.
• A person should not operate a personal watercraft at any time between the hours from sunset to sunrise.

A personal watercraft shall at all times be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner.

Marine Waters South of I-10

In addition to the PWC requirements above:

• PWCs must have a self-circling device or lanyard-type ignition safety switch with the lanyard attached to the operator’s person, clothing or PFD.
• Operate at an excessive speed within 100 feet of another occupied vessel except in a crossing situation or overtaking situation
• Jump, or attempt to jump, the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of the other vessel
• Follow within 100 feet of a water-skier
• Create a potentially damaging wake within 100 feet of:
• Anywhere vessels are typically docked (harbors, public marinas, etc.)
• All public boat launching ramps

Boating Safety Course to Operate a PWC

No person under the age of sixteen years of age shall operate a personal watercraft on the waters of Mississippi. However persons under 16 years of age who are 13 years of age or older on January 1, 2005, may operate a PWC if they have completed an approved boating safety course and carry proof of completion of the course.