12:7-74.1 - Personal watercraft owner's liabilities
12:7-74.1. Personal watercraft owner's liabilities
4. In addition to all other remedies permitted and duties required by law, the owner of a personal watercraft shall be jointly liable for damage incurred by another person operating the owner's personal watercraft if the owner knowingly allows the person to operate the owner's personal watercraft, the operator has not successfully completed a boat safety course required pursuant to subsection c. of section 2 of P.L.1987, c.453 (C.12:7-61) or a written test administered pursuant to section 17 of P.L.1995, c.401 and the operator is not exempt from the boat safety certificate requirement pursuant to subsection a. or c. of section 18 of P.L.1995, c.401 (C.12:7-86).
L.1997,c.152,s.4.
12:7-75.Alteration of motor number, filing of statement
6.A person who possesses a motor, whether inboard or outboard, the motor number of which has been altered or mutilated, or who comes into possession of such a motor, shall at once file in writing with the Division of State Police a statement setting forth all circumstances in connection with that person's possession of the motor.
L.1995,c.401,s.6.
12:7-76.Careless operation of vessel7. a. A person who operates a vessel on the waters of this State, without due caution and circumspection, in a manner that endangers, or is likely to endanger, a person or property shall be guilty of careless operation. Careless operation shall include, but need not be limited to, the loading of a vessel beyond the maximum capacity stated on the United States Coast Guard capacity label or the capacity label of the manufacturer affixed to the vessel.
b.In addition to any other requirements provided by law, a person convicted under subsection a. of this section shall be required after conviction to complete a boat safety course from the list approved by the Superintendent of State Police pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1987, c.453 (C.12:7-60), which shall be completed prior to the restoration of the privilege to operate a vessel which may have been revoked or suspended for a violation of the provisions of this section. Failure to satisfy this requirement shall result in the immediate revocation of the privilege to operate a vessel on the waters of this State, or the continuation of revocation until the requirements of this subsection are satisfied.
L.1995,c.401,s.7.
12:7-77.Floatation devices required
8.A person shall not operate or allow another person to operate a vessel on the waters of this State unless the vessel has a serviceable United States Coast Guard approved personal flotation device for each person on board. Such devices shall be of a type and in sufficient number as required by the United States Coast Guard for a vessel of that class operating on navigable waters. Such devices shall be readily accessible when the vessel is under way or worn as required by regulation.
For the purpose of this section, the term "vessel" does not include surfboards, windsurfers, racing shells, rowing sculls and racing kayaks.
L.1995,c.401,s.8.
12:7-78.Discard of debris; fine
9. a. A person shall not discard debris from a vessel that is on the waters of this State. A person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 for each offense.
b.There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the owner of the vessel, if present on the vessel, or, in the owner's absence, the operator of the vessel, is responsible for any violation of this section, if:
(1)Debris of any nature is discarded from the vessel by an occupant of the vessel;
(2)There are two or more occupants in the vessel; and
(3)It cannot be determined which occupant of the vessel is the violator.
L.1995,c.401,s.9.
12:7-79.Stop, lay to by order of officer10.A person operating a vessel on the waters of this State shall stop or lay to when so ordered by any law enforcement officer.
L.1995,c.401,s.10.
12:7-80.Summons; arrest
11. a. A law enforcement officer may serve a summons on any person violating any provision of chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes.
b. A law enforcement officer may arrest any person violating in his presence any provision of chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes instead of issuing a summons pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
c. A law enforcement officer may arrest without a warrant any person who the officer has probable cause to believe has operated a vessel in violation of section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46), regardless of whether the suspected violation occurred in the officer's presence.
L.1995,c.401,s.11.
12:7-81.Jurisdiction of courts
12. a. The Superior Court and every municipal court shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes. Each of these courts shall have jurisdiction to receive complaints, order arrests, issue summonses and warrants, admit to bail, and take any action required of a judge in the enforcement of the provisions of chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes within their respective territorial jurisdictions.
b.A court that suspends or revokes a person's privilege to operate a power vessel shall transmit forthwith to the director an order indicating that fact and the ground upon which the privilege was suspended or revoked.
L.1995,c.401,s.12.