Jet-Ski Bill Clears Senate Second Time Measure Keeps Regulation Of Watercraft On Local Level

Legislation to regulate personal watercraft passed the Senate on Wednesday, only an hour after the same chamber had rejected the bill by one vote.

But when the Senate reconsidered the bill, it passed 19-15.

Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden, was among those who switched votes. On the first round, he was the only North Idaho senator to oppose the bill.

Crow said Sen. Laird Noh, R-Kimberly, explained to him after the first vote that amendments to the bill make it clear that cities and counties are the ones that should regulate personal watercraft such as Jet-skis.

“The bill … in no way regulates the use of Jet-skis from the state level,” Crow said, explaining his switch. “It simply clarifies the local jurisdiction.”

Crow had said earlier that he didn’t think the bill was necessary, and that he got calls and letters against the bill, but none in favor of it.

The bill earlier had passed the House.

Sen. Tim Tucker, D-Porthill, was pleased with the turnaround in the vote, and called the bill important to North Idaho.

“On Priest Lake, parents put 10-year-old kids on those things and let ‘em go nuts,” he said.

The legislation, if it is signed into law by Gov. Phil Batt, will allow cities or counties to specifically regulate motorized personal watercraft. They can establish zones where the craft are banned, or limited in speed or distance from the shore.

The legislation also requires anyone renting the craft to provide life jackets and instruction on how to operate them safely. And it states that no vessel may be operated negligently while within 100 feet of another vessel, or while zipping along within 100 feet of a dock, a swimmer or other person in the water.

Noh said, “We’ve all, I know, had complaints from our constituents about this.”

Existing laws are “really vague” about local government’s ability to regulate personal watercraft operation, Noh said.

“Probably a great majority of our constituents are really ready for some reasonable regulation.”

Sen. Mary Lou Reed, D-Coeur d’Alene, unsuccessfully proposed a stricter regulation law last year.

“This is a good compromise,” she said.

, DataTimes