The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Session Laws
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same,
as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 90B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 9 the following two sections:-
Section 9A. No person shall operate a jet ski, surf jet or wetbike (a) on waters of the commonwealth unless the person is sixteen years of age or older, (b) within one hundred and fifty feet of a swimmer, shore or moored vessel, except at headway speed, (c) on waters of the commonwealth of less than seventy-five acres, (d) without wearing an approved personal flotation device or (e), between sunset and sunrise. For the purposes of this section, the term, "headway speed", shall mean the slowest speed at which a personal watercraft, jet ski, surf jet or wetbike can be operated and maintain steerage way.
Section 9B. The division of law enforcement within the department of fisheries and wildlife is hereby authorized and directed to establish an educational safety program for the operation of jet skis, surf jets and wetbikes. All persons under the age of eighteen who operate such watercraft shall be required to participate in said program; provided, however, that the director of said division shall establish the program criteria and content and shall determine the minimum safety skills necessary for said persons to operate such watercraft.
SECTION 2. Section 14 of said chapter 90B, as appearing in the 1988 Official Edition, is hereby amending by striking out, in lines 2 and 12, the words "or six" and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the words:- six or nine A.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a municipality by a majority vote of the local governing body may allow the use and operation of a jet ski, surf jet or wetbike consistent with the rules and regulations of the department of fisheries, wildlife and environmental law enforcement on any pond or lake of less than seventy-five acres within the jurisdiction of said municipality.