Is it illegal for anyone to allow a person under Blank to operate a PWC in Florida?

Age and Operator Restrictions

• No one under the age of 14 years may operate a personal watercraft (PWC) on Florida waters at any time, even if such person possesses a Boating Safety Education I.D. Card.
• No one under the age of 18 years may rent/lease a PWC.
• It is also illegal for the owner of a PWC to knowingly allow a person under 14 years of age to operate a PWC.

Additional Information

The law requires that persons affected by this legislation have in their possession a Boating Safety Education I.D. Card issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and photographic ID while operating a vessel.

Exemptions

Operators are exempt from needing to get the license if they are:

• Licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel
• Operating on a private lake or pond
• Accompanied on board by a person who is exempt from the education requirement or by a person who is at least 18 years old, possesses the required identification cards, and is attendant to the operation of the vessel and responsible for any violation that occurs
• Operating a vessel within 90 days after purchase and have a bill of sale on board and available for inspection

Enforcement

Florida law enforcement officers patrol the waterways to make your boating experience safe and pleasant. Cooperate with them by following the laws and guidelines.

Carry the Card: Vessel operators who are required to have a Boater Education Card must carry the card on board the vessel and have it available for inspection by an enforcement officer.

Penalty: Not carrying your Boater Education Card when one is required can result in a fine.

Reciprocity

For visiting boaters, all states, territories, and provinces will recognize boating education cards that meet NASBLA requirements and Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator Cards that meet Transport Canada’s requirements. (This is known as “reciprocity.”)

327.39 Personal watercraft regulated.—

(1) A person may not operate a personal watercraft unless each person riding on or being towed behind such vessel is wearing a personal flotation device, other than an inflatable device, currently approved by the United States Coast Guard and used in accordance with the United States Coast Guard approval label.

(2) A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard type engine cutoff switch must attach such lanyard to his or her person, clothing, or personal flotation device as is appropriate for the specific vessel.

(3) A person may not operate a personal watercraft at any time between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. However, an agent or employee of a fire or emergency rescue service is exempt from this subsection while performing his or her official duties.

(4) A personal watercraft must at all times be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. Maneuvers which unreasonably or unnecessarily endanger life, limb, or property, including, but not limited to, weaving through congested vessel traffic, jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably or unnecessarily close to such other vessel or when visibility around such other vessel is obstructed, and swerving at the last possible moment to avoid collision shall constitute reckless operation of a vessel, as provided in s. 327.33(1). Any person operating a personal watercraft must comply with the provisions of s. 327.33.

(5) No person under the age of 14 shall operate any personal watercraft on the waters of this state.

(6)(a) It is unlawful for the owner of any personal watercraft or any person having charge over or control of a personal watercraft to authorize or knowingly permit the same to be operated by a person under 14 years of age in violation of this section.

(b)1. It is unlawful for the owner of any leased, hired, or rented personal watercraft, or any person having charge over or control of a leased, hired, or rented personal watercraft, to authorize or knowingly permit the watercraft to be operated by any person who has not received instruction in the safe handling of personal watercraft, in compliance with rules established by the commission.

2. Any person receiving instruction in the safe handling of personal watercraft pursuant to a program established by rule of the commission must provide the owner of, or person having charge of or control over, a leased, hired, or rented personal watercraft with a written statement attesting to the same.

3. The commission shall have the authority to establish rules pursuant to chapter 120 prescribing the instruction to be given, which shall take into account the nature and operational characteristics of personal watercraft and general principles and regulations pertaining to boating safety.

(c) Any person who violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(7) This section does not apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition or a person preparing to participate or participating in a regatta, race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition held in compliance with s. 327.48.

History.—s. 3, ch. 89-136; s. 1, ch. 94-295; s. 953, ch. 95-148; s. 12, ch. 2000-362; s. 2, ch. 2015-161.

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