§855.3. Regulation of personal watercraft
A. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft unless each person aboard is
wearing a type I, type II, type III, or type V personal flotation device approved by the United
States Coast Guard.
B. A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a
lanyard type engine cutoff switch shall attach such lanyard to his person, clothing, or
personal flotation device as appropriate for the specific vessel.
C. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft at any time between sunset and
sunrise unless equipped with navigational lights in accordance with the regulations of the
United States Coast Guard.
D. A personal watercraft shall at all times be operated in a reasonable and prudent
manner as defined in R.S. 34:851.5.
E. No person under the age of sixteen may operate a personal watercraft on the
waters of this state.
F. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any personal watercraft or any person having
charge over or control of a personal watercraft to authorize or knowingly permit the same to
be operated by a person under the age provided for in Subsection E of this Section.
G. A violation of any provision of this Section shall be a class one violation subject
to penalties and enforcement procedures as set forth in Title 56 of the Louisiana Revised
Statutes of 1950.
Acts 1991, No. 97, §1; Acts 1999, No. 12, §1; Acts 2004, No. 709, §1; Acts 2009,
No. 27, §1; Acts 2023, No. 136, §1.