A. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft unless each person aboard the personal watercraft is wearing a United States Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.

B. A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch shall attach the lanyard to his or her person, clothing, or personal flotation device as appropriate for the specific vessel. It is unlawful for any person to remove or disable a cutoff switch that was installed by the manufacturer.

C. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft during darkness.

D. A person under the age of 14 shall not operate a personal watercraft on the waters of the city.

E. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft in a reckless manner, including recklessly jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably or unnecessarily close to the vessel or when visibility around the vessel is obstructed, or recklessly swerving at the last possible moment to avoid collision.

F. A person shall not lease, hire, or rent a personal watercraft to a person under the age of 16.

G. Subsections A through F of this section shall not apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition or a person participating in an authorized regatta, race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition.

H. Violations of subsections B through F of this section constitute a misdemeanor under BCC 10.00.010(M)(2). (Ord. 5956 § 17, 2010; Ord. 5202 § 4, 2000.)