Rhode Island SB 554: AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PERSONAL WATERCRAFT SAFETY ACT

Bill Text

2025 -- S 0554
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LC001506
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PERSONAL WATERCRAFT SAFETY
ACT
Introduced By: Senators LaMountain, McKenney, and Raptakis
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: Senate Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 46-27-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-27 entitled "Personal 1
Watercraft Safety Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
46-27-4. Penalties. 3
(a) Any person who violates §§ 46-27-2(b) or 46-27-2(h) any provision of this chapter or 4
who violates any rule or regulation promulgated hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and 5
shall be subject to a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment not to exceed 6
six (6) months for each such violation. The privilege to operate a personal watercraft may be 7
suspended for a period of up to six (6) months for each violation. 8
(b) Any person who violates any other provision of this chapter or who violates any 9
department of environmental management rule or regulation related to the operation of personal 10
watercraft shall be guilty of a civil violation and be subject to a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty 11
dollars ($250) for each violation. 12
(c) The Rhode Island traffic tribunal has jurisdiction over all civil infractions related to 13
violations of subsection (b) of this section. 14
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 15
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LC001506
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LC001506 - Page 2 of 2
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PERSONAL WATERCRAFT SAFETY
ACT
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This act would make violations of §§ 46-27-2(b) and 46-27-2(h) related to operation of 1
personal watercraft a misdemeanor subject to a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500). The 2
privilege to operate a personal watercraft may also be suspended for six (6) months. The act would 3
also make any violation of any rules and regulations of the department of environmental 4
management a civil violation resulting into a civil violation with a penalty of two hundred fifty 5
dollars ($250). 6
This act would take effect upon passage. 7
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LC001506
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