{"data":{"id":"us-mt/23-2-531","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"23-2-531","heading":"Personal watercraft operation.","body":"In addition to applicable provisions in this part, a person may not operate a personal watercraft:\n(1) unless a person operating or riding on the vessel is wearing a United States coast guard approved type of personal flotation device;\n(2) if the vessel is equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard type engine cutoff switch unless the lanyard is attached to the operator's person, clothing, or personal flotation device as is appropriate for the specific vessel;\n(3) (a) except as provided for standup personal watercraft in subsection (3)(b) or when towing a waterskier from or to a dock or shore, at greater than no-wake speed within 200 feet of a dock, swimmer, swimming raft, nonmotorized boat, or anchored vessel on a lake or river;\n(b) at greater than the minimum speed necessary to operate a personal watercraft when leaving or returning directly from or to a dock or shore for the purpose of launching or docking; or\n(4) on any surface waters restricted in whole or in part by rule of the fish and wildlife commission;\n(5) in a reckless or negligent manner. Actions prohibited in 23-2-523 are considered reckless operation.","path":["TITLE 23. PARKS, RECREATION, SPORTS, AND GAMBLING","CHAPTER 2. RECREATION","Part 5. Boats"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0230/chapter_0020/part_0050/section_0310/0230-0020-0050-0310.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:49:49Z","sha256":"e466dfd936d157656b3375aa26aaff23dee976f67c10893e4f14399adf146cd9","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/23-2-530","next":"us-mt/23-2-532"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}