b'B O AT I N G R E G U L AT I O N S No passenger shall ride in front of the operator on a A shut-off lanyard, if so equipped, must be attached to personal watercraft. the operator, his clothing, or his personal flotation device in aNo passenger shall ride upon a personal watercraftmanner which will shut off the engine in the event the operator unless the passenger is able to securely hold onto the personis ejected from the personal watercraft while underway.in front of them or to the handholds on the personal watercraft, and is able to keep both feet on the deck of the personalBoating Under the Influence (BUI)watercraft so as to maintain balance while the personalNo person may operate a boat while under the influence of watercraft is in operation. alcohol or drugs. All persons aboard a personal watercraft shall wear aA person shall be considered to be under the influence of United States Coast Guard approvedintoxicating liquor if the ratio of alcohol Type I, II, III or V personal flotationin the blood is eight-hundredths (.08) device, and no operator of a personalof one percent or more of alcohol, by watercraft shall allow any person toweight, or if the person is under 21 be aboard who is not wearing such ayears of age, the level is .02.device. Inflatable life jackets are notThe penalty for a first violation may allowed. be: a fine between $500 and $1,000;No person shall operate aone year suspension of boating personal watercraft at a speed inprivileges, six months (at least 48 excess of Slow-No-Wake withinhours of which cannot be suspended 200 feet of shore or of a dock, pier,or reduced) in jail or suspended float or anchored or moored vessel,plus probation requiring 100 hours unless said personal watercraft iscommunity service.approaching such float, dock or shoreThe penalty for a second violation for the purpose of enabling a personwithin 10 years may be: a fine engaged in water skiing to take off orbetween $1,000 and $4,000; three land. years suspension of boating privileges,No person shall operate atwo years (at least 120 days of which personal watercraft towing a watercannot be suspended or reduced) in skier without satisfying the Safe Waterjail and probation requiring 100 hours Skiing Endorsement requirementsof community service.(See page 12) and no personThe penalty for a third violation shall waterski while being towedand subsequent violations within by a personal watercraft unless:10 years may be: a fine between (1) a capacity label affixed by the$2,000 and $8,000, suspension of manufacturer indicates a carryingboating privileges for life, three years capacity of at least three persons:(at least one year of which cannot the operator, the observer and thebe suspended or reduced) in jail and skier; (2) minimum overall length of 119 inches, minimumprobation requiring 100 hours of overall width of 46 inches, minimum horizontal seat length ofcommunity service.39 inches [at least 13 inches additional seat length per personPenalties for refusal to submit to a chemical test are more for greater than three person capacity]; (3) handholds at orsubstantial than failing the test.near the rear of the seat suitable for use by a rearward-facingBoating Accidents and Reportingobserver; and (4) an observer age 12 or older facing the skier at all times. The boat operator, observer and water skier mustAll operators of vessels involved in an accident must remain obey all other waterski rules. at the scene and assist any other vessel or person involved, ifNo person operating a personal watercraft shall cross orpossible, without endangering their own vessel or the people jump the wake of another vessel, when within 100 feet of theaboard. The operator must also give his/her name, address and vessel creating such wake, in such a manner that the hull ofvessel identification number to the other operator(s) or owner of the personal watercraft jumping the wake completely leavesthe damaged property.the water. Operators involved in a boating accident which results in any of the circumstances noted below shall immediately notify the nearest law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the 262020 Connecticut BOATERS GUIDE'