Fight Over Jetboats Will Be Heard In Court

San Juan County’s fight to ban personal watercraft will be heard in the state Supreme Court on May 13.

The county is appealing a ruling by a Whatcom County Superior Court judge that the ban is illegal.

County commissioners enacted the ban in January 1996, saying the small watercraft such as Jet Skis are noisy, threaten the safety of swimmers and other boaters, could harm the marine environment and don’t fit in with the serenity of the islands.

More than 1,000 of the county’s 12,000 residents signed petitions favoring the limits.

Ten organizations and individuals sued, including the Personal Watercraft Industry Association and the Port of Lopez.

Each side gets 20 minutes to present oral arguments to the nine-member Supreme Court, which usually takes months to decide cases.