There are several new Virginia boating laws that take effect in 1999. If you boat in any Virginia waters, you should be aware of these changes.

"No wake" is defined as the "slowest possible speed required to maintain steerage and headway. This definition is effective January 1, 1999.

It shall be unlawful to operate any motorboat greater than "no wake" speed when within fifty feet or less of docks, piers, boathouses, boat ramps and people in the water. This change does not prohibit the pulling of a skier with a rope of less than 50 feet in length, and is effective January 1, 1999.

Boating Businesses

Several changes to the laws will affect boating businesses and, in some cases, those who rent personal watercraft.

Personal watercraft rental businesses will be required to provide instruction on safe operating requirements to those who rent their vessels. This change is effective January 1, 1999.

Watercraft demonstrators (those employed or contracted by a watercraft dealer to demonstrate watercraft to prospective buyers) must be licensed effective January 1, 1999.

Watercraft salesmen and watercraft demonstators will be required to successfully complete a basic boating safety education course or, by December 31, 1998, pass an approved test. Any watercraft salesmen and watercraft demonstrator licensed after December 31, 1998, shall have a grace period of sixty days from the issuance of his license in which to complete the approved course.

Those who rent a personal watercraft to another person must first successfully complete a basic boating safety education course. Effective July 1, 1998, insurers providing boating liability policies will be required to offer the option of purchasing uninsured operator coverage.

Businesses in Virginia Beach that provide personal watercraft for rent must place the letter "R" (at least 8.5 x 11 inches) on both sides of each rental personal watercraft. This requirement is effective July 1, 1998.

Local governments are authorized to have ordinances establishing standards for insurance coverage for any business that provides personal watercraft for rent. This authorization is effective July 1, 1998.

State Government

The Department of Conservation and Recreation is authorized to regulate the launching of personal watercraft from Seashore State Park/First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach. This authorization is effective July 1, 1998.

Every general district court or circuit court or the clerk thereof shall forward records of those charged with boating under the influence to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall maintain those records and make them available to law enforcement officers. This requirement is effective July 1, 1998.

There are also new regulations pertaining specifically to Personal Watercraft...

A person shall be guilty of reckless operation who operates any personal watercraft recklessly or at a speed or in such a manner as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person, which shall include, but not be limited to:

• Weaving through vessels that are underway, stopped, moored or at anchor while exceeding a reasonable speed under the circumstances and traffic conditions existing at the time;
• Following another vessel or person on water skis or similar device, crossing the path of another vessel, or jumping the wake of another vessel more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the speed of both vessels and the traffic on and the condition of the waters at the time;
• Crossing between the towing vessel and a person on water skis or other device; or
• Steering toward an object or person and turning sharply in close proximity to such object or person in order to spray or attempt to spray the object or person with the wash or jet spray of the personal watercraft.

A violation of any of the above provisions constitutes a Class 4 misdemeanor. The above provisions do not apply to participants in regattas, races, marine parades, tournament or exhibitions approved by the Board of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or the United States Coast Guard.