§ 12 §13071-A — Operating personal watercraft

1.
Operating personal watercraft while underage.
A person under 16 years of age may not operate a personal watercraft.
2.
Additional safety requirements while operating personal watercraft.
The following provisions apply to operating or being a passenger on a personal watercraft.
3.
Operating rented or leased personal watercraft without identification decal.
A person may not operate a rented or leased personal watercraft on Brandy Pond in the Town of Naples or on Long Lake in the Town of Naples, the Town of Bridgton and the Town of Harrison that does not have a clearly visible decal affixed to the personal watercraft that identifies the rental agent.
4.
Operating personal watercraft in prohibited area.
The following provisions apply to operating a watercraft in prohibited areas.
5.
Operating personal watercraft while 16 years of age or older and under 18 years of age; boater education.
6.
Operating personal watercraft while 16 years of age or older; boater safety and education course requirement.
Beginning January 1, 2024, a person born on or after January 1, 1999 may not operate a personal watercraft on inland waters of the State or territorial waters, as defined in section 6001, subsection 48‑B, unless that person is 16 years of age or older and has completed a boater safety and education course.

Legislative History

PL 2003, c. 655, §B384 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 536, §1 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 536, §3 (AFF). PL 2021, c. 656, §§6, 7 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 106, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 206, §7 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 228, §15 (AMD).