2006 Code of Virginia § 29.1-738.03 - Reckless operation of a personal watercraft

29.1-738.03. Reckless operation of a personal watercraft.

A person shall be guilty of reckless operation of a motorboat or vessel whooperates any personal watercraft recklessly or at a speed or in such a mannerso as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person, which shallinclude, but not be limited to:

1. Weaving through vessels which are underway, stopped, moored or at anchorwhile exceeding a reasonable speed under the circumstances and trafficconditions existing at the time;

2. Following another vessel or person on water skis or other similar device,crossing the path of another vessel, or jumping the wake of another vesselmore closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the speedof both vessels and the traffic on and the condition of the waters at thetime;

3. Crossing between the towing vessel and a person on water skis or otherdevice; or

4. Steering toward an object or person and turning sharply in close proximityto such object or person in order to spray or attempt to spray the object orperson with the wash or jet spray of the personal watercraft.

A person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor,and for a second or subsequent offense, the court shall order the person notto operate a personal watercraft which is underway upon the waters of theCommonwealth for a period of twelve months.

(1998, c. 514.)