Michigan Legislature increases minimum operator age

PWC drivers must be at least 16

The Michigan Legislature passed legislation on June 26 that will require personal watercraft operators in the state to be at least 16 years of age to operate a personal watercraft unsupervised.

House Bill 6014 sponsored by Rep. Ted Hammon passed the House of Representatives by 83 – 24 and then passed the Senate by 23 – 14. Michigan’s current personal watercraft age requirement is only 14. A minimum operating age of 16 is advocated by PWC manufacturers and the Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA).

“We applaud the Michigan Legislature for approving this legislation. By passing this bill, the lawmakers have taken a bold step to help ensure capable and mature boaters are at the helm on Michigan waterways,” says Maureen Healey, executive director of PWIA. “We believe requiring drivers to be 16 to operate a car is a good standard that should apply to personal watercraft as well. We thank Representative Hammon for his leadership and for putting boating safety first.”

The legislation renamed the ‘Ashleigh Iserman’s Law’ is in honor of the Rochester teenager who lost her life in a 2004 boating accident. Her mother, Jan Iserman, has been working with the boating industry and state legislatures to pass stricter boater safety laws in the state.

If signed into law by Governor Granholm, this legislation would establish 16 as the minimum unsupervised age for personal watercraft operation as of October 1, 2011. Beginning on that date, a person younger than 16 would not be allowed to operate a PWC unless he or she were at least 14 years old and either riding with a parent or legal guardian, or an individual who was at least 21 years old designated by the parent or guardian. Also, somebody younger than 16 could operate or ride a personal watercraft within 100 feet of a parent, legal guardian, or designated individual. In addition, the legislation prohibits the operation of personal watercraft beginning at sunset, rather than one hour before sunset.

Currently, boaters under the age of 14 may not operate a personal watercraft on Michigan’s waters. A person who is at least 12 but younger than 14 may operate a personal watercraft if the person is accompanied solely by a parent or legal guardian; both the person and the parent or legal guardian have obtained a boating safety certificate; the personal watercraft is equipped with a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch, and the parent or legal guardian has the lanyard attached to his or her person, clothing, or personal flotation device; and the personal watercraft is designed to carry at least two people.

Related Reading:
PWC age limit may rise in Michigan