69-9-506 - Leasing of personal watercraft by persons under sixteen (16) years of age prohibited.

69-9-506. Leasing of personal watercraft by persons under sixteen (16) years of age prohibited.

No person under sixteen (16) years of age may rent or attempt to hire, lease, or rent a personal watercraft. It shall be illegal for any marina, livery, or rental operation to hire, lease, or rent a personal watercraft to any person under sixteen (16) years of age. Further, no marina, livery, or other rental operation may hire, lease, or rent a personal watercraft to any first-time renter until the rental operation at first provides an orientation, approved by the wildlife resources agency, to the renter containing at least the following information: basic operation of the craft, including steering capability when the power is decreased or at idle; required safety equipment and the use of the engine cutoff switch; rules of the road; meaning of the state uniform waterway marking system buoys; regulations regarding wake-jumping and other regulations specific to personal watercraft. Further, the renter must acknowledge in writing that the renter has received such instruction, the marina, livery, or other rental operation must keep on file such acknowledgment for a period of at least thirty (30) days, and such record shall be available for inspection by enforcement officers during regular business hours.

[Acts 1996, ch. 808, § 1; 2000, ch. 830, § 4; T.C.A. § 69-10-506.]