1.    An individual may not engage in barefoot skiing or manipulate any water skis, surfboard, or similar device without wearing a life preserver approved by the department, unless the individual is:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 20.1-13-10

  • Department: means the game and fish department. See North Dakota Code 20.1-01-02
  • Individual: means a human being. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Operate: means to navigate or otherwise use a motorboat or a vessel. See North Dakota Code 20.1-01-02
  • Organization: includes a foreign or domestic association, business trust, corporation, enterprise, estate, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, partnership, trust, or any legal or commercial entity. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Personal watercraft: means a motorboat that is powered by an inboard motor powering a water jet pump or by an inboard or outboard marine engine and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the craft, rather than in a conventional manner of sitting or standing inside a motorboat. See North Dakota Code 20.1-01-02
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Vessel: means any watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. See North Dakota Code 20.1-01-02

a.    Sixteen years of age or older and engaged in windsurfing or boardsailing; or

b.    Engaging or attempting to engage in barefoot skiing or surfing and the individual is wearing a wet suit specifically designed for barefoot skiing or surfing which is in good and serviceable condition and of appropriate size.

2.    An individual engaging or attempting to engage in barefoot skiing or surfing under subdivision b of subsection 1, must have on board the towing vessel a life preserver approved by the department.

3.    Any time between one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, an individual may not operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing an individual engaged in barefoot skiing or on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device, nor engage in barefoot skiing, water skiing, surfboarding, or similar activity.

4.    Subsections 1 and 3 do not apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition or an individual engaged in an activity authorized under section 20.1-13-11.

     5.    An individual may not operate or manipulate any vessel, towrope, or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, a surfboard, or similar device may be affected or controlled in a way as to cause the water skis, surfboard, or similar device, or an individual on the device or engaged in barefoot skiing, to collide with or strike against any object or individual.

6.    An individual may not operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing an individual engaged in barefoot skiing or on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device unless there is another individual in the towing vessel observing any individual being towed or the vessel is equipped with a mirror at least seventy-eight square inches [198.12 square centimeters] which provides the operator an unobstructed field of vision to the rear. This subsection does not apply to a personal watercraft or to members of any organization regularly staging water ski shows, tournaments, or exhibitions while engaged in the performance of such shows, tournaments, or exhibitions. The department shall adopt rules to allow such organizations to practice in preparation for such events, as prescribed in section 20.1-13-11.

7.    An individual who violates this section is guilty of a class 2 noncriminal offense.

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