Wisconsin Statutes 30.678 – Boating safety certificates; requirements; exemptions; operation by minors
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Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 30.678
- Adult: means a person who has attained the age of 18 years, except that for purposes of investigating or prosecuting a person who is alleged to have violated any state or federal criminal law or any civil law or municipal ordinance, "adult" means a person who has attained the age of 17 years. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
- Following: when used by way of reference to any statute section, means the section next following that in which the reference is made. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: includes all partnerships, associations and bodies politic or corporate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
(1) Motorboats other than personal watercraft.
30.678(1)(a) (a) No person under 10 years of age may operate a motorboat.
(b) No person who is at least 10 years of age but under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat unless he or she is accompanied in the motorboat by a parent or guardian or by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who is designated by a parent or guardian and the parent, guardian, or designated adult holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c) or was born before January 1, 1989.
(c) No person who is at least 12 years of age but under 16 years of age may operate a motorboat unless one of the following applies:
1. The person holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c).
2. The person is accompanied in the motorboat by a parent or guardian or by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who is designated by a parent or guardian and the parent, guardian, or designated adult holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c) or was born before January 1, 1989.
(d) No person who was born on or after January 1, 1989, and who is 16 years of age or older may operate a motorboat unless one of the following applies:
1. The person holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c).
2. The person is accompanied in the motorboat by another person who is at least 18 years of age and that person holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c) or was born before January 1, 1989.
(2) Personal watercraft.
(a) No person under 12 years of age may operate a personal watercraft.
(b) No person who is 12 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may operate a personal watercraft unless he or she is in possession of a valid certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c).
(c) No person who was born on or after January 1, 1989, and who is 16 years of age or older may operate a personal watercraft unless the person holds a valid safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c).
(2m) Proof of certificate. Any person who is required to hold a safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) while operating a motorboat shall carry proof that the person holds a valid safety certificate and shall display such proof to a law enforcement officer on request.
(3) Exemption. Subsections (1) (b), (c), and (d) and (2) (b) and (c) do not apply to a person while the person is operating a motorboat as may be required as part of a boating safety course under s. 30.74 (1).
(4) Parent and guardian liability. A violation of sub. (1) (a), (b), (c), or (d) or (2) (a), (b), or (c) that is done with the knowledge of a parent or guardian shall be considered a violation by the parent or guardian and shall be punishable under s. 30.80.