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Relevant State and Federal Regulations

Michigan Personal Water Craft Regulations
[From the 1999 DNR Regulation Pamphlet]

Age Requirements

  • Persons born after December 31, 1978 shall not operate a PWC unless they obtain a boating safety certificate.
  • A person under the age of 14 shall not operate a PWC in this state.
  • A person who is 12 but less than 14 may operate a PWC if he or she obtained a boating safety certificate before January 1, 1999.
  • Operators of a PWC must carry their boating safety certificate and display it upon the demand of a peace officer.

Prohibited Operation

  • No operation of a PWC before 8 a.m. or during the period that begins 1 hour before sunset.
  • PWC may not cross within 150 feet behind another vessel, other than a PWC unless the PWC is operating at a slow-no wake speed.
  • No operation of PWC where water depth is less than 2 feet unless:
    • PWC is being operated at no-wake speed
    • PWC is being docked or launched.
  • No operation of PWC or person being towed by a PWC shall operate within 100 feet of:
    • a dock or raft
    • a buoyed or occupied bathing or swimming area
    • a person in the water or on the water in a personal flotation device
    • an anchored or moored vessel
    • a vessel that is drifting or sitting dead in the water

Accidents

A PWC accident involving a vessel or its equipment must be reported as soon as possible to the nearest peace officer if any of the following conditions exist:

  • There is a death or disappearance of a person
  • A person is injured
  • There is property damage estimated at $100 or more

The operator of a PWC that is involved in an accident must show his registration to any persons injured or to the owner of any damaged property. the operator must also give his or her name, address and vessel identification to the same persons.

Equipment Requirements

  • Each person on board the PWC must wear a personal flotation device that is not an inflatable.
  • Each person, riding or being towed, must wear a type I, II or III personal flotation device
  • Each personal watercraft must be equipped with one B1 type fire extinguisher