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86B.313.1(a)(7)

Statute ID: 16541

Statute Function ID: 34821

Personal Watercraft - May not Operate to chase or harass wildlife

In Effect

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Charge

Classifications

Offense Level:

Petty Misdemeanor (PM)

General Offense Code:

DWI/Traffic/Vehicle Regulation (4)

Offense Summary Code & Rank:

Traffic/Accidents(exclude DWI) (J) (Rank 28)

Detailed Offense Code:

Water Craft (492)

Offense Severity Level:

Function Text:

UCR Code

Description

999

NIBRS Non-Reportable

Flags

Crime of Violence:

Targeted Misdemeanor:

Predatory Offender Registration Review:

Enhanceable:

Certify to DPS:

Report to DNR:

Yes

DPS Group:

Conditional Release:

Payable:

Petty Misdemeanor Only if Prosecutor Certifies:

Yes

Third Violation Indicator:

Qualified Domestic Violence Related:

Nonviolent Controlled Substance Offender Review:

Wildlife Restitution:

Statute Number:

86B.313.1(a)(7)

Enactment Date:

May 30, 2017

Effective Date:

Jul 1, 2017

Expiration Date:

Repealed?:

Summary Text:

Personal Watercraft - May not Operate to chase or harass wildlife

Statute ID:

16541

Created:

Jun 14, 2017 by mnjis.legal.analyst@state.mn.us

Updated:

Jun 14, 2017 by mnjis.legal.analyst@state.mn.us

Last Update Action:

Added

Legal Analyst Comment:

Amend 2017 c 93 art 2 sect 39; Amendment to (a)(1)

Summary Text:

Personal Watercraft - May not Operate to chase or harass wildlife

Link to MN Statute Text:

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/86B/313.html

Legislative Session:

2017 - Regular

Session Law Text?:

Statute text last updated on:

Jul 16, 2020

(a) In addition to requirements of other laws relating to watercraft, a person may not operate or permit the operation of a personal watercraft:

(1) without each person on board the personal watercraft wearing a wearable personal flotation device that is approved by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and has a USCG label indicating   the flotation device either is approved for or does not prohibit use with personal watercraft;

(2) between one hour before sunset and 9:30 a.m.;

(3) at greater than slow-no wake speed within 150 feet of:

(i) a shoreline;

(ii) a dock;

(iii) a swimmer;

(iv) a raft used for swimming or diving; or

(v) a moored, anchored, or nonmotorized watercraft;

(4) while towing a person on water skis, a kneeboard, an inflatable craft, or any other device unless:

(i) an observer is on board; or

(ii) the personal watercraft is equipped with factory-installed or factory-specified accessory mirrors that give the operator a wide field of vision to the rear;

(5) without the lanyard-type engine cutoff switch being attached to the person, clothing, or personal flotation device of the operator, if the personal watercraft is equipped by the manufacturer with such a device;

(6) if any part of the spring-loaded throttle mechanism has been removed, altered, or tampered with so as to interfere with the return-to-idle system;

(7) to chase or harass wildlife;

(8) through emergent or floating vegetation at other than a slow-no wake speed;

(9) in a manner that unreasonably or unnecessarily endangers life, limb, or property, including weaving through congested watercraft traffic, jumping the wake of another watercraft within 150 feet of the other watercraft, or operating the watercraft while facing backwards;

(10) in any other manner that is not reasonable and prudent; or

(11) without a personal watercraft rules decal, issued by the commissioner, attached to the personal watercraft so as to be in full view of the operator.

(b) Paragraph (a), clause (3), does not apply to a person operating a personal watercraft to launch or land a person on water skis, a kneeboard, or similar device by the most direct route to open water.