Ohio § 1547.18 Personal flotation device required

Ohio Statutes

§ 1547.18 — Personal flotation device required

Ohio § 1547.18

Title 15Conservation of Natural Resources

Ch. 1547Watercraft And Waterways

This text of Ohio § 1547.18 (Personal flotation device required) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1547.18 (2026).

Text

(A)Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no person shall engage in any form of towed watersports without wearing an adequate and effective coast guard approved wearable personal flotation device specifically designed for towed watersports, in good and serviceable condition and of appropriate size, except upon special permit issued by one of the following persons or entities that manages the waterway:

(1)The political subdivision having primary jurisdiction;

(2)The administrator of a federal agency;

(3)The director of a state agency;

(4)The board of directors of a conservancy district;

(5)Any other governing body having jurisdiction.

(B)Division (A) of this section does not apply to a person engaging or attempting to engage in barefoot skiing if the person is wear

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(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no person shall engage in any form of towed watersports without wearing an adequate and effective coast guard approved wearable personal flotation device specifically designed for towed watersports, in good and serviceable condition and of appropriate size, except upon special permit issued by one of the following persons or entities that manages the waterway:

(1) The political subdivision having primary jurisdiction;

(2) The administrator of a federal agency;

(3) The director of a state agency;

(4) The board of directors of a conservancy district;

(5) Any other governing body having jurisdiction.

(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to a person engaging or attempting to engage in barefoot skiing if the person is wearing a wet suit specifically designed for barefoot skiing that is in good and serviceable condition and of appropriate size.

(C) No operator of a vessel shall allow any person who fails to comply with division (A) or (B) of this section to engage in any form of towed watersports.