MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Game and Fish

By: Representative Morris

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-21-87, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A MOTORBOAT TOWING A PERSON ON WATER SKIS NEED NOT BE OCCUPIED BY AN OBSERVER IF THE BOAT IS EQUIPPED WITH A WIDE-ANGLE REARVIEW MIRROR POSITIONED SO AS TO ALLOW THE BOAT OPERATOR TO OBSERVE THE PERSON BEING TOWED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 59-21-87, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

59-21-87. No person shall operate a motorboat on any waters of this state while towing a person on water skis, or on an aquaplane or similar device, without an observer in the boat in addition to the operator. Such observer shall be above ten years of age. However, if the towing boat is equipped with a wide-angle marine rearview mirror positioned so as to allow the boat operator to observe the person being towed, then the requirement for an observer shall not apply.

The provisions of the first paragraph of this section do not apply to a person engaged in a professional exhibition or a person participating in an official regatta, motorboat race, marine parade, tournament or exhibition.

No person shall operate or manipulate any motorboat, tow rope or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, aquaplane, or similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause the water skis, aquaplane, or similar device, or any person thereon to collide or strike against any object or person, except slalom buoys, ski jumps or like objects used normally in competitive or recreational skiing.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.