PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES (Section 306.100)

The act specifies that violation of the requirements for boats to have personal flotation devices onboard shall be an infraction and shall be fined a maximum of $25. The act prohibits the imposition of court costs for violations of this provision.

These provisions are substantially similar to provisions in HCS/HB 1591 (2018).

NO-WAKE ZONES (Section 306.125)

In addition, violations of the prohibition against operation of a vessel in excess of no-wake speed within 100 feet of a dock, pier, occupied anchored boat, or buoyed restricted area shall be an infraction and the operator shall be fined a maximum of $25. If the operator can not be identified, the owner of vessel shall be subject to the penalty. The Department of Public Safety shall promulgate rules necessary to implement a no wake zone for vessels 40 feet and over in coves with main junctures of less than 800 feet at the main channel. The act prohibits the imposition of court costs for violations of these provisions.

These provisions are substantially similar to provisions in HCS/HB 1591 (2018).

BOAT PASSENGERS (Section 306.126)

This act specifies that the requirement for boat passengers to ride only within adequate guards or railing when underway shall not apply to vessels propelled by propellers or jet motors when such vessels are operating on a stretch of waterway not created or widened by impoundment.

This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1300 (2018), SS/SCS/HB 1355 (2018), HCS/HB 1591 (2018), SCS/HCS/HBs 2277 & 1983 (2018), SS/SCS/SB 752 (2018), HCS#2/SS#2/SCS/SB 1050 (2018), and similar to SB 65 (2017), HB 558 (2017), HB 2230 (2016), and HB 836 (2015).

ERIC VANDER WEERD