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SB 389 - Watercraft Operation by 14-15 Year Olds - conditions

Gillis, Sr., Hugh M (20th)

Status Summary	SC:	NATR	HC:	GF&P	FR:	02/01/00	LA:	05/01/00	Signed by Governor

First Reader Summary

A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to provide that persons 14 and 15 years of age may operate any type of vessel in the waters of the state under certain conditions; to change certain provisions relating to muffling internal combustion engines on vessels; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Code Sections - 52-7-10

SB 389 00                                      SB389/AP 
 
      SENATE BILL 389 
 
      By:  Senator Gillis of the 20th 
 
 
                        A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 
                               AN ACT 
 
 
  1- 1  To amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official 
  1- 2  Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the registration, 
  1- 3  operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to provide that 
  1- 4  persons 14 and 15 years of age may operate any type of 
  1- 5  vessel in the waters of the state under certain conditions; 
  1- 6  to change certain provisions relating to muffling internal 
  1- 7  combustion engines on vessels; to repeal conflicting laws; 
  1- 8  and for other purposes. 
 
  1- 9       BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: 
 
  1-10                           SECTION 1. 
 
  1-11  Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of 
  1-12  Georgia Annotated, relating to the registration, operation, 
  1-13  and sale of watercraft, is amended by striking in its 
  1-14  entirety subsection (b) of Code Section 52-7-8.3, relating 
  1-15  to the operation and identification of watercraft and the 
  1-16  operation of watercraft by minors, and inserting in lieu 
  1-17  thereof the following: 
 
  1-18    "(b) A person age 14 or 15 may operate a vessel other than 
  1-19    a personal operate: 
 
  1-20      (1) A personal watercraft or nonmotorized Class A vessel 
  1-21      on any of the waters of this state in compliance with 
  1-22      Code Section 52-7-8.2, the provisions of this article; 
  1-23      and 
 
  1-24      (2) Any such person  may operate any other vessel if 
  1-25      such person: 
 
  1-26        (1)(A) Is accompanied by an adult age 18 or over who 
  1-27        is authorized to operate such vessel under the 
  1-28        provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section; 
 
  1-29        (2)(B) Has completed a safe boating course approved by 
  1-30        the department; or 
 
  1-31        (C) Is is under direct supervision by an adult age 18 
  1-32        or over; or (3) Is operating a Class A vessel 
 
 
 
                                 -1- 
 
 
 
  2- 1        utilizing mechanical means of propulsion of ten 
  2- 2        horsepower or less and has completed a safe boating 
  2- 3        course approved by the department." 
 
  2- 4                           SECTION 2. 
 
  2- 5  Said article is further amended by striking in its entirety 
  2- 6  Code Section 52-7-10, relating to exhausts required to be 
  2- 7  muffled and noise level testing, and inserting in lieu 
  2- 8  thereof the following: 
 
  2- 9    "52-7-10. 
 
  2-10    (a) The exhaust of every internal combustion engine used 
  2-11    on any vessel, excluding those vessels documented by the 
  2-12    United States Coast Guard and licensed pursuant to Code 
  2-13    Section 27-2-8, shall be muffled or baffled and water 
  2-14    injected, except those engines that exhaust through the 
  2-15    lower unit or outdrive when the vessel is on plane, so as 
  2-16    to decrease noise. so that the noise level does not exceed 
  2-17    84 decibels measured at a distance of 50 feet. The use of 
  2-18    cutouts or exhaust stacks is prohibited, except as 
  2-19    authorized by permit issued for vessels Vessels competing 
  2-20    in regattas or boat races approved as provided in under 
  2-21    the provisions of Code Section 52-7-19 may be exempt from 
  2-22    such provisions. 
 
  2-23    (b) The operator of any vessel, when requested to do so by 
  2-24    any law enforcement officer authorized to enforce this 
  2-25    title, shall submit the vessel to a noise level test." 
 
  2-26                           SECTION 3. 
 
  2-27  All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are 
  2-28  repealed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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