Minimum age of operators -- Boating safety course for youth to operate personal watercraft.

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  • (1)
    • (a) A person under 16 years of age may not operate a motorboat on the waters of this state unless the person is under the on-board and direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age.
    • (b) A person under 16 years of age may operate a sailboat, if the person is under the direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age.
  • (2) A person who is at least 12 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may operate a personal watercraft provided he:
    • (a) is under the direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age;
    • (b) completes a boating safety course approved by the division; and
    • (c) has in his possession a boating safety certificate issued by the boating safety course provider.
  • (3) A person who is at least 16 years of age but under 18 years of age may operate a personal watercraft, if the person:
    • (a) completes a boating safety course approved by the division; and
    • (b) has in his possession a boating safety certificate issued by the boating safety course provider.
  • (4) A person required to attend a boating safety course under Subsection (3)(a) need not be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian while completing a boating safety course.
  • (5) A person may not give permission to another person to operate a vessel in violation of this section.
  • (6) As used in this section, "direct supervision" means oversight at a distance within which visual contact is maintained.
  • (7)
    • (a) The division may collect fees set by the division in accordance with Section 63J-1-504 from each person who takes the division's boating safety course to help defray the cost of the boating safety course.
    • (b) Money collected from the fees collected under Subsection (7)(a) shall be deposited in the Boating Account.
  • (8) A violation of this section is an infraction.




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