327.37  Water skis and aquaplanes regulated.--

(1)  No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing a person on water skis, or an aquaplane, or similar device unless there is in such vessel a person in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed, or the vessel is equipped with a wide-angle rear view mirror mounted in such manner as to permit the operator of the vessel to observe the progress of the person being towed. This subsection does not apply to class A motorboats operated by the person being towed and designed to be incapable of carrying the operator in the motorboat.

(2)(a)  No person shall engage in water skiing, aquaplaning, or similar activity at any time between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.

(b)  No person shall engage in water skiing or aquaplaning unless such person is wearing a type I, type II, or type III personal flotation device approved by the United States Coast Guard.

(3)  The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition or a person preparing to participate or participating in an official regatta, boat race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition.

(4)  No person shall operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope, or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, aquaplane, innertube, sled, or similar device may be affected or controlled, in such a way as to cause the water skis, aquaplane, innertube, sled, or similar device or any person thereon to collide or strike against any vessel, bridge, wharf, pier, dock, buoy, platform, piling, channel marker, or other object, except slalom buoys, ski jumps, or like objects used normally in competitive or recreational skiing.

History.--s. 5, ch. 59-400; s. 9, ch. 63-105; s. 1, ch. 65-361; s. 8, ch. 84-188; s. 6, ch. 87-392; s. 4, ch. 94-241.