Purpose

Explain and update Minnesota law about operating personal watercraft (PWC) to improve safety and set clearer rules for when and how PWCs can be used, including safety gear, equipment, and conduct requirements.

Main provisions

• Requirements for all riders

  • Every person on a personal watercraft must wear a wearable personal flotation device (PFD) approved by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and labeled to show it is approved for use with personal watercraft.

• Time and location restrictions

  • Personal watercraft operation is not allowed during a nighttime window: between one hour before sunset and 8:00 a.m. (the rule aims to limit use during low-light hours).

• Safe operation near people and objects

  • Do not ride at greater than slow-no-wake speed within 150 feet of:
  • A shoreline
  • A dock
  • A swimmer
  • A raft used for swimming or diving
  • A moored, anchored, or nonmotorized watercraft

• Towing safety (when someone is being towed)

  • If a person is being towed (on water skis, a kneeboard, inflatable craft, or similar device):
  • An observer must be on board, or
  • The PWC must have factory-installed or factory-specified mirrors that give a wide rear view, and
  • The operator must wear the lanyard-type engine cutoff switch attached to the operator’s clothing or PFD if the vehicle has one

• Throttle and equipment integrity

  • Do not remove, alter, or tamper with any part of the spring-loaded throttle mechanism that would interfere with the ability to return the throttle to idle.

• Prohibited conduct

  • Do not chase or harass wildlife.
  • Do not operate through emergent or floating vegetation at speeds greater than slow-no-wake.
  • Do not endanger life, limbs, or property through conduct such as weaving through congested watercraft traffic, jumping another watercraft’s wake within 150 feet, or operating while facing backward.
  • Do not operate in any other manner that is not reasonable and prudent.
  • Do not operate without a personal watercraft rules decal clearly attached and visible to the operator.

• Decals and identification

  • A PWC must display a rules decal issued by the commissioner in full view of the operator.

• Exception for launching/landing

  • The above rules do not apply when launching or landing a person on water skis, a kneeboard, or a similar device by the most direct route to open water.

Significant changes to existing law

• Safety gear requirement: Adds a mandatory USCG-approved personal flotation device for everyone on board, with proper labeling confirming suitability for use with PWCs.
• Visibility and control: Adds a requirement for mirrors on PWCs (or an observer) when towing a person, to improve rear visibility and safety.
• Throttle integrity: Prohibits tampering with the spring-loaded throttle mechanism to ensure reliable return-to-idle operation.
• Specific conduct restrictions near people and wildlife: Expands or clarifies prohibited behaviors around shorelines, swimmers, wildlife, and other watercraft.
• Clear decal requirement: Adds a requirement for a visible PWC rules decal.

Practical impact

• Safer gear and clearer visibility requirements for towing scenarios.
• Stricter near-water safety rules around people, wildlife, and other boats.
• Explicit nighttime operation restrictions to reduce risk during low-light hours.
• Clearer expectations for operators with respect to equipment integrity and behavior on the water.

Relevant Terms personal watercraft (PWC), wearable personal flotation device (PFD), USCG, USCG-approved, USCG label, slow-no-wake (slowno wake) speed, shoreline, dock, swimmer, raft, moored, anchored, nonmotorized watercraft, observer, factory-installed mirrors, factory-specified mirrors, lanyard, engine cutoff switch, spring-loaded throttle, return-to-idle, wildlife, emergent vegetation, weaving, wake, open water, decal, personal watercraft rules decal.