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Personal Watercraft Safety Top Priority for DNR

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources — 8/9/2006

S.C. Department of Natural Recourses boating law enforcement officers are aggressively enforcing the negligent or reckless operation of personal watercraft. This aggressive enforcement of irresponsible operation is an effort to curtail the number of accidents and ensure a safer boating environment.
So far this year, one person has died and 12 have been injured in personal watercraft (PWC) accidents on state waters. Twenty-three people were injured in PWC accidents in 2005. In 2004, there was one PWC fatality and 18 personal injuries.

To report dangerous and unsafe PWC operation, contact the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Operation Game Thief and Coast Watch hotline at 1-800-922-5431.

"South Carolina has had a very busy boating season and the number of serious accidents related to personal watercraft has caused great concern," says Colonel Alvin Taylor, deputy director of DNR, Law Enforcement Division. "The Law Enforcement Division has a zero tolerance policy towards negligent operation of a watercraft. Negligent or reckless operation of a PWC will not be tolerated."

"DNR officers patrolling the state's waterways are constantly on the look-out for dangerous and irresponsible use of personal watercraft, often referred to as jet-skis," Taylor said.

In addition to the potential danger and risk of personal injury, persons convicted of operating a PWC in a negligent or reckless manner can be fined $425.00 and lose their privilege to operate a watercraft in South Carolina waters. Those convicted of reckless operation are required to complete a DNR approved safe boating course, prior to regaining their boating privileges, Taylor added.

Colonel Taylor says that there are laws specific to the operation of personal watercraft that all operators should know and
follow:

Each person riding a PWC must wear an approved flotation device. (U.S. Coast Guard-approved Types I, II, III or V)
Each PWC must be equipped with a self-circling device or lanyard type ignition safety switch, the later of which must be attached to the operator.
PWC's can only be operated between sunrise and sunset.
They cannot jump the wake of another vessel if they are within 200 feet of the vessel that creates the wake.
They must be operated at idle speed if within 50 feet of an anchored vessel, dock, bridge, pier or a person in the water, or if within 100 yards of the Atlantic coastline.
If towing someone, the PWC must have a wide-angle rearview mirror or an observer on board. If and observer is used, the PWC must be rated for three people.

"Boating safety classes offered by DNR, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron, address the operation of PWC's and the laws that are specific to them," Taylor said. "I highly recommend enrolling in a boater safety course, regardless of age or boating experience."

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Personal Watercraft Safety Top Priority for DNR