{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-235.285","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 235.285","heading":"Personal watercraft -- Use for towing -- Prohibitions on use without","body":"personal flotation device or self -circling capability -- General prohibitions of\nvessel operation -- Exceptions -- Supervision of minors.\n(1) A personal watercraft may be used to t ow individuals engaged in waterskiing or\nsimilar activities if it has adequate seating capacity and an observer on board to\nmonitor the progress of the person being towed, or if it is equipped with a rearview\nmirror with a minimum field of vision of one hu ndred sixty (160) degrees mounted\nso that the operator can observe the activities of the person being towed.\n(2) A person shall not operate a personal watercraft on public waters unless every\nindividual operating or riding on the personal watercraft is wea ring a personal\nflotation device that is approved by the United States Coast Guard under 46 C.F.R.\nsec. 160, as it may be amended or renumbered.\n(3) A personal watercraft that does not have self -circling capability shall not be\noperated on public waters unless:\n(a) The personal watercraft is equipped with a lanyard -type engine cutoff switch;\nand\n(b) The lanyard is attached to the person, clothing, or personal flotation device of\nthe operator.\n(4) A vessel operated on public waters shall be operated at all t imes according to the\nprovisions of this chapter and the administrative regulations promulgated hereunder.\nA vessel shall be operated at all times in a reasonable and prudent manner so as not\nto endanger human life, human physical safety, or property. A pe rson shall not do\nany of the following while operating a vessel on public waters:\n(a) Weave through congested watercraft traffic in a way that endangers human\nlife, human physical safety, or property;\n(b) Follow a watercraft that is towing an individual on  water skis, a surfboard, or\na water sport device in a way that endangers human life, human physical\nsafety, or property;\n(c) Jump the wake of another watercraft in a way that endangers human life,\nhuman physical safety, or property;\n(d) Cut between a boat and the individual or individuals being towed by the boat;\n(e) Cross paths with another watercraft when visibility around the other\nwatercraft is so obstructed as to endanger human life, human physical safety,\nor property; or\n(f) Steer a personal watercraft or motorboat toward an object or individual in the\nwater and turn sharply at close range in a way that endangers human life,\nhuman physical safety, or property.\n(5) A person shall not operate a personal watercraft on public waters at any time\nbetween sunset and the following sunrise.\n(6) A person shall not operate a vessel within fifty (50) feet of a commercial motor\nvessel and its tow which is in operation on a waterway, except if the operator of the\ncommercial motor vessel has given his or her consent.\n(7) (a) A person under twelve (12) years of age shall not operate a personal watercraft\nor motorboat over ten (10) horsepower on the public waters of the\nCommonwealth.\n(b) Effective January 1, 1999, a person twelve (12) years of age through\nseventeen (17) years of age shall not operate a personal watercraft or\nmotorboat over ten (10) horsepower on the public waters of the\nCommonwealth unless the person is in possession of a safe boating certificate\nor is accompanied, on board, by a person eighteen (18) years of age or older or\nin possession of a safe boating certificate.\n(c) While operating a motorboat or a personal watercraft over ten (10)\nhorsepower on the public waters of the Commonwealth, nonresidents twelve\n(12) years of age through seventeen (17) years of age shall have in their\npossession a Kentucky safe boating certificate or a recognized and equivalent\nboat operator licensing or safe boating certificate from another s tate or\ncountry.\n(8) Subsections (1) to (6) of this section shall not apply to:\n(a) A performer engaged in a professional exhibition; or\n(b) A person participating in a regatta, a race, a marine parade, a tournament, or\nan exhibit that is held in complianc e with administrative regulations adopted\nby the department.\n(9) The parent, legal guardian, or other adult who has direct supervision over a minor\nunder the age of eighteen (18) shall not knowingly authorize or permit the minor to\noperate a motorboat or personal watercraft in violation of this section.","path":["KRS Chapter 235"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=43435","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:52:49Z","sha256":"b06a753118c98ef0ebb0b2ad71198ed7a2fc3d409c6a1e7f3ddc35c7de4c0ce6","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-235.280","next":"us-ky/krs-235.287"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}