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kneeling on the craft, rather than in the conventional <br />manner of sitting or standing inside a motorboat. <br />Al I personal watercraft are considered motorboats <br />and therefore, any regulations that govern other <br />motorboats (such as fishing boats, cabin cruisers, <br />etc.), also govern personal watercraft. <br />A*ersonal Watercraft Laws <br />In summary, the law requires thai <br />* Anyone operating or riding on a personal <br />watercraft m, ist wear a U.S. Coast Guard ap- <br />"_§ � ww� <br />proved Type 1, 11, 111 or V personal flotation <br />device (PFD or life jacket). <br />* Personal watercraft must travel at slow - no <br />wake speed (5 mph or less) within 150 feet.of <br />non-motorized boats, shore (unless launch- <br />ing or landing skiers directly to or from open <br />water), docks, swim rafts, swimmers, or any <br />moored or anchored boat. <br />* Operation of personal watercraft is allowed <br />only from 9:30 a.m. to 1 hour before sunset. <br />* if you tow a person on water skis, or any <br />other device, there must be an additional <br />person on board the personal watercraft <br />to act as an observer. (The observer does not <br />have to be facing backward.) The skier/knee- <br />boarder etc. must also be wearing a PFD <br />or there must be one on board the personal <br />watercraft for the skier. <br />Factory-installed or factory-specified <br />wide-field rearview mirrors are allowed in- <br />stead of an observer when pull ing a shier or <br />other device (tube, kneeboard, etc.). The- <br />mirrors must be specified by the personal <br />watercraft manufacturer. After-market mir- <br />1_01's, stick-on mirrors, motorcycle mirrors <br />etc., do not qualify for the observer exemp- <br />tion. <br />M <br />If the machine is equipped by the manufac- <br />turer with a lanyard-type engine cutoff <br />switch, it must be attached to the person, <br />life jacket or clothing of the operator when <br />underway. <br />You may not operate a personal watercraft if <br />any part of the spring-loaded throttle system <br />has been removed or tampered with so it <br />interferes with the return-to-idle system. <br />You may not chase or harass wi Idl ife. <br />You may not travel through emergent or <br />floating vegetation at gireater than slow - no <br />wake speed. <br />You may not operate a personal watercraft <br />in a manner that unreasonably or unneces- <br />sarily endangers life, limb or property. <br />You mad not weave through congested <br />watercraft traffic, or jump the wake of <br />another watercraft within 150 feet of the <br />other watercraft. This includes other <br />personal watercraft. <br />A personal watercraft rules decal issued by <br />the DNR needs to be on the craft in full <br />view of the operator. <br />You may not operate a personal watercraft <br />while facing backward. <br />It is unlawful for the owner of the personal wa- <br />tercraft to permit its operation in violation of the <br />age restrictions. See personal watercraft operator <br />age chart on next page. <br />9. <br />Selling and Renting Personal Watercraft <br />Personal watercraft dealers are required to <br />distribute a summary of the laws and rules <br />governing personal watercraft. Upon request <br />by a purchaser, they must provide instruc- <br />tion regarding laws governing personal wa- <br />37 <br />