Bill Text: SC H3308 | 2021-2022 | 124th General Assembly | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Watercraft

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-03-16 - Act No. 124 [H3308 Detail]

Download: South_Carolina-2021-H3308-Amended.html

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AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

May 13, 2021

H. 3308

Introduced by Reps. Huggins, Hill, Forrest, Caskey and Hixon

S. Printed 5/13/21--S.

Read the first time March 16, 2021.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 50-21-870, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PERSONAL WATERCRAFT AND BOATING SAFETY, SO AS TO INCREASE DISTANCE LIMITS BETWEEN A WATERCRAFT OPERATING IN EXCESS OF IDLE SPEED UPON CERTAIN WATERS OF THIS STATE AND A MOORED OR ANCHORED VESSEL, WHARF, DOCK, BULKHEAD, PIER, OR PERSON IN THE WATER.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 50-21-10 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding two appropriately numbered new items to read:

"(    )    'Narrow waterway' means a segment of the waters of this State that is two hundred feet or less in width.

( )    'Wake surf' means to operate a vessel that is ballasted in the stern so as to create a wake that is, or is intended to be, surfed by another person."

SECTION    2.    Section 50-21-870(B)(6) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(6)(a)    operate a personal watercraft, specialty propcraft, or vessel while upon a narrow waterway in excess of idle speed within fifty feet of a moored or anchored vessel, wharf, dock, bulkhead, pier, or person in the water; or

(b)    operate a personal watercraft, specialty propcraft, or vessel while upon the all other waters of this State in excess of idle speed within 50 one hundred feet of a moored or an anchored vessel, wharf, dock, bulkhead, pier, or a person in the water, or within 100 one hundred yards of the Atlantic Ocean coast line. The prohibitions contained in this item (6) do not apply to an unoccupied, moored vessel or watercraft or to a person behind a vessel or watercraft who is on water skis or a floating device with the permission of the operator of the vessel or watercraft;

(c)    The provisions of this item do not apply to Lake Moultrie."

SECTION    3.    Section 50-21-870(B) of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately numbered new item to read:

"(    )    wake surf in excess of idle speed within two hundred feet of a moored vessel, wharf, dock, bulkhead, pier, or person in the water."

SECTION    4.    Unless otherwise provided, this act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.