AB439: Bill Text

AB439, s. 14 Section 14. 30.66 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,9,4 30.66 (2m) Lack of speedometer not a defense. In any forfeiture or criminal action for an alleged violation of sub. (1) or (2), the defendant may not raise the defense that he or she did not know how fast the motorboat was moving because the motorboat lacked a speedometer.

AB439, s. 15 Section 15. 30.66 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 30.66 (3) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB439,9,9 30.66 (3) (a) (intro.) Except under s. 30.69 (3), no No person may operate a motorboat within that is not a personal watercraft at a speed in excess of slow-no-wake in any of the following areas:

AB439,9,11 1. Within 100 feet of any dock, raft, pier or buoyed restricted area on any lake at a speed in excess of slow-no-wake speed.

AB439, s. 16 Section 16. 30.66 (3) (a) 2. to 4. of the statutes are created to read:

AB439,9,13 30.66 (3) (a) 2. Within 100 feet of the shoreline of any lake.

AB439,9,15 3. Within 100 feet of a boat, other than a motorboat or a sailboat, that is being operated.

AB439,9,16 4. Within 100 feet of any boat that is not being operated.

AB439, s. 17 Section 17. 30.66 (3) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 30.66 (3) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB439,9,22 30.66 (3) (b) (intro.) No person may operate a personal watercraft at a speed in excess of slow-no-wake within 100 feet of any other boat. This paragraph does not apply if s. 30.69 (3) (a), (c) or (d) applies to the operation of the personal watercraft. in any of the following areas:

AB439, s. 18 Section 18. 30.66 (3) (b) 1. to 3. of the statutes are created to read:

AB439,9,25 30.66 (3) (b) 1. Within 100 feet of any dock, raft, pier or buoyed restricted area on any lake.

AB439,10,1 2. Within 100 feet of the shoreline of any lake.

AB439,10,2 3. Within 100 feet of any boat, regardless of whether the boat is being operated.

AB439, s. 19 Section 19. 30.66 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,10,7 30.66 (3) (c) Notwithstanding pars. (a) and (b), if a person who is operating a motorboat is towing a person who is engaged in water skiing, as defined in s. 30.69 (1), the provisions under s. 30.69 (3) (a) and (c) shall apply to the extent that they are more restrictive than the provisions under pars. (a) and (b).

AB439, s. 20 Section 20. 30.66 (3) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,10,12 30.66 (3) (d) The distance restrictions in pars. (a) to (c) do not apply to a person who is water skiing, as defined in s. 30.69 (1), or a motorboat towing that person, in an area that is marked with regulatory markers and that is open to the person or motorboat for pickup or drop-off purposes.

AB439, s. 21 Section 21. 30.68 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,10,14 30.68 (title) Prohibited and restricted operation.

AB439, s. 22 Section 22. 30.68 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,10,20 30.68 (2) Negligent operation. No person may operate or use any boat, or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane or similar device engage in water skiing, as defined in s. 30.69 (1), upon the waters of this state in a careless, negligent or reckless manner so as to endanger that person's his or her life, property or person or the life, property or person of another.

AB439, s. 23 Section 23. 30.68 (3) (a) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,10,22 30.68 (3) (a) (title) Incapacitated persons.

AB439, s. 24 Section 24. 30.68 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,11,9 30.68 (3) (b) (title) Minors under age 16; motorboats other than personal watercraft. No person under the age of 10 years may operate a motorboat. Persons No person who is at least 10 and years of age but less than 12 years of age may operate a motorboat only if they are unless he or she is either accompanied in the boat motorboat by a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated by a parent or guardian. Persons No person who is at least 12 and years of age but less than 16 years of age may operate a motor of any horsepower, but only if they are motorboat unless he or she is either accompanied in the motorboat by a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated by a parent or guardian, or unless he or she is in possession of a valid certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1). This paragraph does not apply to personal watercraft.

AB439, s. 25 Section 25. 30.68 (3) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB439,11,19 30.68 (3) (b) Minors under age 16; motorboats other than personal watercraft. No person under the age of 10 years may operate a motorboat. No person who is at least 10 years of age but less than 12 years of age may operate a motorboat unless he or she holds a valid certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) and is accompanied in the motorboat by a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated by a parent or guardian. No person who is at least 12 years of age but less than 16 years of age may operate a motorboat unless he or she holds a valid certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1). This paragraph does not apply to personal watercraft.

AB439, s. 26 Section 26. 30.68 (3) (c) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,11,21 30.68 (3) (c) (title) Minors under age 16; personal watercraft.

AB439, s. 27 Section 27. 30.68 (3) (cg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,12,2 30.68 (3) (cg) Minors ages 16 and 17; motorboats other than personal watercraft. No person who is 16 or 17 years of age may operate a motorboat unless the person holds a valid certificate issued under par. (e) or s. 30.74 (1). This paragraph does not apply to personal watercraft.

AB439, s. 28 Section 28. 30.68 (3) (cr) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,12,6 30.68 (3) (cr) Minors ages 16 and 17; personal watercraft. No person who is 16 or 17 years of age may operate, lease or rent a personal watercraft unless the person holds a valid certificate issued under par. (e) or s. 30.74 (1).

AB439, s. 29 Section 29. 30.68 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,12,10 30.68 (3) (d) (title) Parental responsibility. A violation of under par. (b) or (c) done with the knowledge of a parent or guardian shall be deemed considered a violation by the parent or guardian, and is punishable under s. 30.80.

AB439, s. 30 Section 30. 30.68 (3) (d) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

AB439,12,15 30.68 (3) (d) Parental responsibility. A violation under pars. (b) to (cr) done with the knowledge of a parent or guardian shall be considered a violation by the parent or guardian and is punishable under s. 30.80.

AB439, s. 31 Section 31. 30.68 (3) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,12,20 30.68 (3) (dm) Adults born on or after January 1, 1979. No person who was born on or after January 1, 1979, and who is 18 years of age or older may operate a motorboat unless the person holds a valid certificate issued under par. (e) or s. 30.74 (1).

AB439, s. 32 Section 32. 30.68 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,13,4 30.68 (3) (e) Boating safety examination. 1. The department shall administer an examination on boating safety and operation. The department may promulgate rules for administration of the examination under this subdivision, including rules that specify the content of the examination, the score that constitutes satisfactory completion of the examination and the minimum amount of time that a person must wait to retake the examination. The department shall issue a certificate to any person who satisfactorily completes the examination and who is either 16 or 17 years old or is at least 18 years old and was born on or after January 1, 1979.

AB439,13,7 2. A valid certificate issued by another state or a province of Canada may be used by the holder of the certificate in lieu of a certificate issued under subd. 1. if the examination content substantially meets that established by the department.

AB439, s. 33 Section 33. 30.68 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,13,13 30.68 (5m) Towing by a personal watercraft. A No person may use a personal watercraft to tow any other watercraft or object except a stranded or disabled boat if, during towing, the speed of the personal watercraft does not exceed. No person may use a personal watercraft to tow a stranded or disabled boat at a speed in excess of slow-no-wake.

AB439, s. 34 Section 34. 30.68 (9) and (10) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB439,13,17 30.68 (9) Overloading. No person may operate a boat shall be that is loaded with passengers or cargo beyond its safe carrying capacity, taking into consideration weather and other existing operating conditions.

AB439,13,21 (10) Overpowering. No person may equip or operate a boat shall be equipped with any motor or other propulsion machinery beyond its safe power capacity, taking into consideration the type and construction of such watercraft and other existing operating conditions.

AB439, s. 35 Section 35. 30.68 (13) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,14,2 30.68 (13) Eyesight restrictions. (a) No person may operate a motorboat without using corrective lenses if the person is required by the department of transportation or by another state to use corrective lenses while operating a motor vehicle.

AB439,14,5 (b) No person may operate a motorboat during nighttime hours if the person is prohibited by the department of transportation or by another state from operating a motor vehicle during nighttime hours.

AB439, s. 36 Section 36. 30.681 (1) (bn) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,14,11 30.681 (1) (bn) Operating with alcohol concentrations at specified levels; below age 19. A person who has not attained the age of 19 may not engage in the operation of a motorboat while he or she has a blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.0% but not more than 0.1% by weight of alcohol in his or her blood or more than 0.0 grams but not more than 0.1 grams of alcohol in 210 liters of his or her breath.

AB439, s. 37 Section 37. 30.69 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 30.69 (1m), and 30.69 (1m) (a) and (c), as renumbered, are amended to read:

AB439,15,2 30.69 (1m) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may operate a motorboat towing a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar device who is engaged in water skiing unless there is in the boat motorboat a competent person in addition to the operator in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed. An observer shall be considered competent if that person can in fact observe the person being towed and relay any signals to the operator. This observer requirement does not apply to motorboats classified as Class A motorboats by the department actually operated by the persons being towed and so constructed as to be incapable of carrying the operator in or on the motorboat. No person may engage in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity, at any time from sunset to sunrise. This restriction of the hours of water skiing does not prevent restrictions of the hours of water skiing between sunrise and sunset by local ordinances enacted pursuant to s. 30.77 (3) or regulations imposed pursuant to s. 30.771.

AB439,15,6 (c) In addition to complying with par. (a), no person may operate a personal watercraft that is towing a person who is on water skis, an aquaplane or similar device engaged in water skiing unless the personal watercraft is designed to seat at least 3 persons.

AB439, s. 38 Section 38. 30.69 (1) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,15,9 30.69 (1) Definition. In this section, "water skiing" includes water skiing using water skis, an aquaplane or a similar device and barefoot water skiing.

AB439, s. 39 Section 39. 30.69 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,15,15 30.69 (2) Careful and prudent operation. A person operating a motorboat having in tow a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar device who is engaged in water skiing shall operate such boat the motorboat in a careful and prudent manner and at a reasonable distance from persons and property so as not to endanger the life or property of any person.

AB439, s. 40 Section 40. 30.69 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,15,20 30.69 (3) (a) No person operating a motorboat that is towing persons engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity may operate the motorboat within 100 feet of any occupied anchored boat, any personal watercraft or any marked swimming area or public boat landing.

AB439, s. 41 Section 41. 30.69 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,15,24 30.69 (3) (b) No person who is engaged in water skiing , aquaplaning or similar activity may get within 100 feet of a personal watercraft or allow the tow rope while in use to get within 100 feet of a personal watercraft.

AB439, s. 42 Section 42. 30.69 (3) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,16,2 30.69 (3) (c) 1. A motorboat towing a person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity.

AB439, s. 43 Section 43. 30.69 (3) (c) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,16,5 30.69 (3) (c) 2. The tow rope of a motorboat towing a person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity.

AB439, s. 44 Section 44. 30.69 (3) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,16,8 30.69 (3) (c) 3. A person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity.

AB439, s. 45 Section 45. 30.69 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,16,14 30.69 (3) (d) Paragraphs (a) to (c) do not apply to pickup or drop areas that are a person who is water skiing or a motorboat towing that person in an area that is marked with regulatory markers and that are is open to operators of personal watercraft and to persons and motorboats engaged in water skiing the person or motorboat for pickup or drop-off purposes.

AB439, s. 46 Section 46. 30.69 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,16,21 30.69 (4) Intoxicated operation. No person may use water skis, an aquaplane or a similar device engage in water skiing while under the influence of an intoxicant to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely using water skis, an aquaplane or a similar device, or under the combined influence of an intoxicant and any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely using water skis, an aquaplane or a similar device water skiing.

AB439, s. 47 Section 47. 30.74 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,17,4 30.74 (1) (b) The department shall prescribe the course content, and the form of the certificate and may collect $2 $5 from each person who enrolls in the course. The department may authorize instructors conducting such courses meeting standards established by it to retain $1 $2.50 of the fee to defray expenses incurred locally to operate the program. The remaining $1 $2.50 of the fee shall be retained by the department for the purpose of defraying a part of its expenses incurred to operate the program.

AB439, s. 48 Section 48. 30.74 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,17,10 30.74 (1) (c) Valid certificates For purposes of s. 30.68 (3), a valid certificate issued by other states or provinces held by persons between the ages of 10 and 16 years will be honored another state or a province of Canada may be used by the holder of the certificate in lieu of a certificate issued under par. (a) if the course content substantially meets that established by the department.

AB439, s. 49 Section 49. 30.77 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,17,20 30.77 (3) (a) Any town, village or city may, in the interest of public health, safety or welfare, including the public's interest in preserving the state's natural and scenic resources, enact ordinances applicable on any waters of this state within its jurisdiction if the ordinances are not contrary to or inconsistent with this chapter and if the ordinances relate to the equipment, use or operation of boats or to any activity regulated by ss. 30.60 to 30.71. Except as provided under s. 33.455 (3) (b), no such ordinance that pertains to the equipment, use or operation of a boat on an inland lake is valid unless all towns, cities and villages having jurisdiction on the waters of the lake have enacted an identical ordinance.

AB439, s. 50 Section 50. 30.77 (3) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,18,2 30.77 (3) (am) 1. A public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district may, in the interest of public health, safety or welfare, including the public's interest in preserving the state's natural and scenic resources, enact and enforce ordinances applicable to a lake entirely within its boundaries if each town, village and city having jurisdiction on the lake adopts a resolution authorizing the lake district to do so.

AB439, s. 51 Section 51. 30.77 (3) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:

AB439,18,9 30.77 (3) (ar) The department shall promulgate rules establishing, and make available to applicable local units of government, 3 advisory model ordinances for the local units of government to consider when enacting their ordinances regarding the equipment, use and operation of boats on inland lakes under par. (a) or (am). The model ordinances shall provide different provisions based on the density of boating traffic on inland lakes.

AB439, s. 52 Section 52. 30.77 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,18,18 30.77 (3) (b) Any county may, in the interest of public health, safety or welfare, including the public's interest in preserving the state's natural and scenic resources, enact an ordinance applicable on any river or stream within its jurisdiction if the ordinance is not contrary to or inconsistent with this chapter, and if the ordinance relates to the equipment, use or operation of boats or to any activity regulated by ss. 30.60 to 30.71. If a county enacts an ordinance under this paragraph, the county ordinance supersedes all provisions of a town, village or city ordinance enacted under par. (a) that is inconsistent with the county ordinance.

AB439, s. 53 Section 53. 30.77 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB439,19,12 30.77 (3) (d) Ordinances pertaining to the equipment, use or operation of boats on inland lakes shall be subject to advisory review by the department as provided under this paragraph. Proposed ordinances subject to review under this paragraph shall be submitted by the local town, village or city clerk or by a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district to the department at least 60 days prior to final action thereon by the town, village or city governing body. Advisory reports regarding town, village or city or lake district ordinances that regulate the equipment, use or operation of boats on inland lakes shall be based on consideration of the effect of the ordinance on the state from the standpoint of uniformity and enforcement and the effect of the ordinance on an affected town, village, city or lake district in view of pertinent local conditions. Advisory reports shall state in what regard such ordinances are considered consistent or inconsistent with this chapter as to public health, safety or welfare, including the public's interest in preserving the state's natural and scenic resources, and shall be accompanied by suggested changes, if any. No later than 20 days after receipt by the department of proposed ordinances, the department shall advise the town, village, city or lake district in writing as to the results of its advisory review under this paragraph. The department shall address the results sent to a town, village or city to its clerk.