Current Status
BillNumber: 3526
Ratification Number: 610
Act Number: 502
Introducing Body: House
Subject: To exempt windsurfers and sailboarders from the
requirement to wear life preservers and to establish
a no wake zone upriver of the Kiawah Docking Facility
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A502, R610, H3526)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-21-850, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT WATER SKIERS AND SURFERS WEAR LIFE PRESERVERS, SO AS TO EXEMPT WINDSURFERS AND SAILBOARDERS FROM THE REQUIREMENT; TO AMEND ARTICLE 9 OF CHAPTER 21 OF TITLE 50, RELATING TO WATERSKIS, AQUAPLANES, SURFBOARDS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES, BY ADDING SECTION 50-21-855, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCES DEPARTMENT FROM ENFORCING REGULATIONS REQUIRING WINDSURFERS AND SAILBOARDERS TO WEAR OR CARRY PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES; AND TO ESTABLISH A NO WAKE ZONE UPRIVER OF THE KIAWAH DOCKING FACILITY, TO PROVIDE THAT EXPENSES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SIGNS IN THE AREA MUST BE BORNE BY THE OWNERS OF THE FACILITY, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE SIGNS MUST BE DESIGNED AND INSTALLED AS SPECIFIED BY THE WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Life preservers required
SECTION 1. Section 50-21-850 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 50-21-850. No person shall water ski or ride on a surfboard or similar object unless he is wearing a ski belt, a life preserver, or similar equipment which will keep the person afloat should he fall or be thrown into the water. Participants in scheduled water ski tournaments or shows sponsored by a recognized water ski club are exempt from this requirement. Persons holding ratings of first class or higher in the American Water Ski Association are exempt from this requirement. Windsurfers and sailboarders are exempt from this requirement."
Department may enforce regulation affecting windsurfers and sailboarders
SECTION 2. Article 9 of Chapter 21 of Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 50-21-855. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or Regulation 123.1 of the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department may not enforce any regulation requiring windsurfers and sailboarders to wear or carry personal flotation devices."
No wake zone established
SECTION 3. There is established a no wake zone to begin one hundred yards in a southwesterly direction upriver of the Kiawah Docking Facility and extending to a point one hundred vards in a northeasterly direction downriver of the facility. These boundaries must be clearly marked with signs. Expenses for the establishment and maintenance of signs in the area must be borne by the owners of the Kiawah Island Docking Facility. The signs must be designed and installed as specified by the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department.
Time effective
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 28th day of June, 1984.