§ 63-4212. Towing person or persons using parasails, water skis or similar devices - Time restrictions - Professional exhibitions excepted - Colliding with or striking object or person - Operation of personal watercraft.

A.  1.  No person shall operate or give permission to operate a vessel on any waters of this state for towing a person or persons using parasails or on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device unless there is in such vessel:

a.a person who is at least eight (8) years old, and who, in addition to the operator, is in a position to observe the progress of the person or persons being towed,

b.if the vessel is not a personal watercraft, an efficient wide angle convex rear view mirror installed on such vessel in such manner as to permit the person operating said vessel to face the direction of travel and be in a position to observe the progress of the person or persons being towed, or

c.if the vessel is a personal watercraft, two efficient wide angle convex rear view mirrors installed on such vessel in such manner as to permit the person operating such watercraft to face the direction of travel and be in a position to observe the progress of the person or person being towed.

2.  Water skiing shall be allowed with any watercraft which is designed to accommodate two or more persons.

B.  No person shall operate or give permission to operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing a person or persons using parasails or on water skis, a surfboard, a sailboard or similar device nor shall any person engage in parasailing, water skiing, surfboarding, sailboarding or similar activity at any time between the hours from sunset to sunrise or at such time visibility due to other existing conditions is obscured so as to endanger life or property.

C.  The provisions of subsections A and B of this section do not apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition or a person or persons engaged in an activity authorized under Section 4205 of this title.

D.  No person shall operate or give permission to operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope or other device by which the direction or location of parasails, water skis, a surfboard, or similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause the parasails, water skis, surfboard, or similar device, or any person thereon to collide with or strike against any object or person.

E.  1.  No person shall operate or give permission to operate a personal watercraft or similar device capable of being remote controlled by the skier unless such device is factory equipped with an engine kill switch capable of shutting off the engine in the event the skier becomes detached from the personal watercraft device.  A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard type engine cutoff switch shall attach such lanyard to his or her person, clothing, or personal flotation device as appropriate for the specific vessel.

2.  No person shall operate a personal watercraft at any time between the hours from sunset to sunrise unless equipped with prescribed lights.

Added by Laws 1989, c. 346, § 64, emerg. eff. June 3, 1989.  Amended by Laws 1992, c. 284, § 53, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Laws 1993, c. 60, § 1, emerg. eff. April 12, 1993; Laws 1994, c. 231, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 2003, c. 393, § 7, emerg. eff. June 4, 2003.