SENATE BILL No. 484

 

 

May 9, 2007, Introduced by Senators KUIPERS and ALLEN and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

 

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

 

by amending section 80215 (MCL 324.80215), as added by 2000 PA 229.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 80215. (1) Except as provided in subsections subsection

 

(2), and (3), a person under the age of an individual less than 14

 

years of age shall not use a personal watercraft on the waters of

 

this state.

 

     (2) A person who is 12 or more and less than 14 years of age

 

before January 1, 1999 may use a personal watercraft on the waters

 

of this state if before January 1, 1999 he or she obtained a

 

boating safety certificate.

 

     (2) (3) A person An individual who is 12 years of age or more

 


older and less than 14 years of age may use a personal watercraft

 

on the waters of this state if all of the following circumstances

 

exist:

 

     (a) The person individual is accompanied solely by the

 

person's parent or legal guardian.

 

     (b) Both the person individual and the parent or legal

 

guardian have obtained a boating safety certificate.

 

     (c) The personal watercraft is equipped by the manufacturer

 

with a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch, and the parent or legal

 

guardian has the lanyard attached to his or her person, clothing,

 

or personal flotation device.

 

     (d) The personal watercraft is designed to carry not less than

 

2 persons individuals.

 

     (3) (4) A person who was born after December 31, 1978 Except

 

as otherwise provided in this section, an individual who is less

 

than 18 years of age shall not operate a personal watercraft upon

 

the waters of this state unless he or she first obtains a boating

 

safety certificate.

 

     (5) Not later than March 23, 2004, the graduated age

 

provisions of this section shall be reviewed by the appropriate

 

committee of both houses of the legislature to ascertain the

 

effect, if any, these provisions have had upon the safe operation

 

of personal watercraft upon the waters of this state.

 

     (4) (6) The owner of a personal watercraft or a person an

 

individual having charge over or control of a personal watercraft

 

shall not authorize or knowingly permit the personal watercraft to

 

be operated in violation of this section.

 


     (5) (7) This section does not apply to a performer engaged in

 

a professional exhibition or a person preparing to participate or

 

participating in a regatta, race, marine parade, tournament, or

 

exhibition held in compliance with section 80164 under a permit

 

issued by the department and at the time and place specified in the

 

permit.