(1) If a person carelessly and heedlessly operates a personal watercraft upon the waters of this state in disregard of the rights or safety of others, without due caution and circumspection, or at a rate of speed or in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger a person or property, that person is guilty of reckless operation of a personal watercraft and is subject to the penalties described in subsection (2) or (3), or both, as applicable.
  (2) Upon a person’s conviction under this section, the court may issue an order prohibiting the person from operating a personal watercraft on the waters of this state for a period of not more than 2 years and shall order the person to participate in and complete a boating safety course. An order issued pursuant to this subsection is in addition to any other penalty authorized under section 80219 or subsection (3).

Terms Used In Michigan Laws 324.80208

  • Boating safety course: means a course that meets both of the following requirements:
  (i) Provides instruction on the safe operation of a personal watercraft that meets or exceeds the minimum course content for boating or personal watercraft education established by the national association of state boating law administrators education committee (October 1996). See Michigan Laws 324.80201
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Owner: means a person who claims or is entitled to lawful possession of a personal watercraft by virtue of that person's legal title or equitable interest in a personal watercraft. See Michigan Laws 324.80201
  • Person: means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 324.80201
  • Personal watercraft: means a vessel that meets all of the following requirements:
    •   (i) Uses a motor-driven propeller or an internal combustion engine powering a water jet pump as its primary source of propulsion. See Michigan Laws 324.80201
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  • Waters of this state: means any waters within the territorial limits of this state, and includes those waters of the Great Lakes that are under the jurisdiction of this state. See Michigan Laws 324.80201
    •   (3) A person who violates this section twice within a 3-year period is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both. A person who violates this section 3 or more times within a 5-year period is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both. Upon a person’s second or subsequent conviction under this section, the court may issue an order impounding the personal watercraft that the person was operating at the time the person violated subsection (1) for a period of not more than 1 year, if either of the following conditions exists:
      (a) The person is an owner of the personal watercraft.
      (b) The person is the minor child of an owner of the personal watercraft.
      (4) The cost of storage for an impoundment ordered under subsection (3) shall be paid by the owner of the personal watercraft.
      Previous section
    Next section  
     Part 802 Contents