Are there PWC special regulations for riding personal watercraft?
Are there PWC special regulations for riding personal watercraft? Personal Watercraft (PWC) are small, jet-propelled boats designed to carry one to three people to sit on top rather than inside a vessel. Often referred to as “jet skis,” these watercraft are considered motorboats and are subject to the same regulations as motorboats, including equipment and responsible handling. Additionally, for a life jacket to be considered “readily accessible” on a PWC, it must be worn. All riders must wear their life jackets at all times while the PWC is under way. There are no additional rules addressing PWCs, except when renting them. Idaho law requires those who rent PWCs to deliver education. Afterwards, each rider must carry the state’s verification of education card whenever operating (driving) a rented PWC. If one person out of a large group pays for the rental, he or she is legally responsible to make sure everyone else who rides also views the educational video and carries their own wallet card when they drive. Contact the Boating Program Specialist if you are a PWC rental business needing information. Idaho counties have the authority to enact restrictions for personal watercraft that are more strict than state law. Examples of counties that have stricter laws than the state regarding PWC operation include Bonner and Kootenai Counties. It is your responsibility to know the rules for the county in which you plan to recreate. Idaho and PWC manufacturers recommend that all drivers be at least 16 years old, and that all riders wear a helmet, protective shoes and life jacket. Special concerns for PWC Operators: ¦There is a statewide no-wake zone. Slow to 5 mph within 100 feet of a dock, structure or person in the water. ¦Wake jumping, when the craft is “airborne” close behind another boat is restricted. A safe distance is 100 feet. ¦Towing a skier or tuber requires a manufacturer’s capacity rating for three people. ¦It takes three to ski. The driver must have a passenger serve as the spotter and operate the skier-down flag. The PWC must have three-person seating for the operator, observer, and skier. ¦Operating at night is prohibited without the proper combination of lights installed by the manufacturer. ¦Yield the right-of-way to other powerboats and skiers.
