Montana § 23-2-531 Personal Watercraft Operation

Montana Statutes

§ 23-2-531 — Personal Watercraft Operation

Montana § 23-2-531

Title 23PARKS, RECREATION, SPORTS, AND GAMBLING

Ch. 2RECREATION

Part 5Boats

This text of Montana § 23-2-531 (Personal Watercraft Operation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mont. Code Ann. § 23-2-531 (2026).

Text

23-2-531 . Personal watercraft operation. In addition to applicable provisions in this part, a person may not operate a personal watercraft:

(1)unless a person operating or riding on the vessel is wearing a United States coast guard approved type of personal flotation device;

(2)if the vessel is equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard type engine cutoff switch unless the lanyard is attached to the operator's person, clothing, or personal flotation device as is appropriate for the specific vessel;

(3)(a) except as provided for standup personal watercraft in subsection (3)(b) or when towing a waterskier from or to a dock or shore, at greater than no-wake speed within 200 feet of a dock, swimmer, swimming raft, nonmotorized boat, or anchored vessel on a lake or river;

(b)at greater th

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23-2-531 . Personal watercraft operation. In addition to applicable provisions in this part, a person may not operate a personal watercraft:
(1) unless a person operating or riding on the vessel is wearing a United States coast guard approved type of personal flotation device;
(2) if the vessel is equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard type engine cutoff switch unless the lanyard is attached to the operator's person, clothing, or personal flotation device as is appropriate for the specific vessel;
(3) (a) except as provided for standup personal watercraft in subsection (3)(b) or when towing a waterskier from or to a dock or shore, at greater than no-wake speed within 200 feet of a dock, swimmer, swimming raft, nonmotorized boat, or anchored vessel on a lake or river;
(b) at greater than the minimum speed necessary to operate a personal watercraft when leaving or returning directly from or to a dock or shore for the purpose of launching or docking; or
(4) on any surface waters restricted in whole or in part by rule of the fish and wildlife commission;
(5) in a reckless or negligent manner. Actions prohibited in 23-2-523 are considered reckless operation.