PERSONAL WATERCRAFT S.B. 645 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 645 (Substitute S-2 as reported by the Committee of the Whole) Sponsor: Senator Doug Carl
Committee: Transportation and Tourism
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, effective March 1, 1996, to:
-- Require a person to maintain a slow--no wake speed when operating a personal watercraft in a Great Lake within 150 feet of the shoreline, or when operating a personal watercraft on a canal, river, or stream less than 200 feet wide.
-- Require a person operating a personal watercraft or a person being towed on water skis or similar equipment to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet from any dock, raft, or buoyed or occupied bathing or swimming area, a person in or on the water in a personal flotation device, or moored or anchored vessel, unless the watercraft or the person was proceeding at a slow--no wake speed or the vessel operator was picking up or dropping off a water skier.
-- Require a person, age 12 through 15 years, who was operating a personal watercraft to present a boating safety certificate upon the demand of a police officer.
-- Require personal watercraft dealers to offer each buyer a brief boating safety presentation; establish civil infraction fines for dealers; and prohibit dealers from issuing a title, registration, manufacturer’s statement of origin, or temporary permit to a purchaser who refused to take the safety information.
-- Require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to create and make available to dealers a summary of the marine safety laws pertaining to personal watercraft and a summary of the safety features of personal watercraft.
-- Permit a court to offer a person convicted of recklessly operating a personal watercraft the choice of paying a fine of up to $100 or participating in and completing a State-approved personal watercraft safety course.
-- Repeal, as of March 1, 1999, some of the bill’s provisions, including those on the required dealer personal watercraft safety presentation and the required DNR safety documents.
MCL 324.80143 et al. Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
The bill could generate an indeterminate amount of potential revenue for public libraries from the establishment of fines for dealers who did not comply with buyer education requirements.
There would be an indeterminate increase in State and local enforcement costs associated with the establishment of new restrictions on personal watercraft operation.
Date Completed: 11-8-95 Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler
floor\645
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.