MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

By: Senator(s) Sojourner

Senate Bill 2734

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 59-21-87, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW WATER SKIING WITHOUT AN OBSERVER IN THE BOAT IF THE BOAT IS EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN MIRRORS; TO REQUIRE SKIERS TO WEAR A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE; 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.  (1)  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 (10) years of age between one (1) hour after sunset and one (1) hour before sunrise.

 * * * 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.

(2)  Each person being towed behind a vessel on water skis or similar devices must wear a properly secured Type I, II, III or V U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device.

(3)  Every vessel, except personal watercraft, towing a person on water skis or similar device must have:

(a)  A capable observer, other than the operator, ten (10) years old or older, or

(b)  A wide-angle rearview mirror.  The size of the mirror must be at least seventy-eight (78) square inches and have a field of vision of at least one hundred seventy (170) degrees.

(4)  Every personal watercraft towing a person on water skis or a similar device must have mirrors mounted on both the right and left sides of the personal watercraft but not attached to the steering control and the mirrors must be at least two and one-half (2-1/2) inches high and four (4) inches wide.

(5)  A reasonable distance from other vessels, people and property must be maintained so as not to endanger life or property.  It is illegal to tow a person on water skis or similar devices behind a vessel or to manipulate the water skis or similar devices in a manner that causes the towed person to collide with another person or object.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.

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