California Senate Bill 156 from the 2024 legislative session (Chapter 72, Statutes of 2024) officially went into effect on July 2, 2024, immediately upon being chaptered by the Secretary of State.
SEC. 15.
Section 655.7 of the Harbors and Navigation Code is amended to read:
655.7.(a) A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cut-off switch shall attach the lanyard to themselves, their clothing, or their personal flotation device, as appropriate for the specific vessel, while operating on plane or above displacement speed.
(b) A person shall not operate a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with an engine cut-off switch if the engine cut-off switch or engine throttle has been altered in any way that would impede or prevent the engine cut-off switch from operating in its intended manner.
(c) Every personal watercraft shall, at all times, be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. Maneuvers that unreasonably or unnecessarily endanger life, limb, or property, including, but not limited to, jumping or attempting to jump the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that other vessel, operating the personal watercraft toward any person or vessel in the water and turning sharply at close range so as to spray the vessel or person, or operating at a rate of speed and proximity to another vessel so that either operator is required to swerve at the last minute to avoid collision, is unsafe or reckless operation of a vessel.
(d) A person shall not operate a personal watercraft at any time between the hours from sunset to sunrise. This subdivision does not apply to marine patrol, harbor police, or emergency personnel in the performance of their duties.
(e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person operating a power-driven covered vessel shall not operate or authorize another person to operate the vessel on plane or above displacement speed if the engine cut-off switch or engine cut-off switch link is missing, disconnected, or not operating properly.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply if either of the following criteria is met:
(A) The main helm of the vessel is installed within an enclosed cabin.
(B) The vessel does not have an engine cut-off switch and is not required to have one pursuant to Section 4312 of Title 46 of the United States Code.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, "covered vessel" means a vessel that meets all of the following criteria:
(A) Is less than 26 feet overall in length.
(B) Is capable of developing 115 pounds or more of static thrust.
(C) Is either equipped with an engine cut-off switch or was built on or after December 4, 2019.
(f) This section does not apply to a performer who is engaged in a professional exhibition or to a person who is participating in a regatta, race, marine parade, tournament, exhibition, or other event sanctioned by the United States Coast Guard or authorized by a permit issued by the local entity having jurisdiction over the area where the event is held.
(g) Any violation of this section is an infraction.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 72, Sec. 15. (SB 156) Effective July 2, 2024.)
Very Respectfully
Paul Clark