TO AMEND SECTION 50-21-870, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PROVISIONS THAT REGULATE THE OPERATION OF VARIOUS TYPES OF WATERCRAFT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN A WATERCRAFT AND ANOTHER OBJECT IN WHICH A WATERCRAFT MAY BE OPERATED IN EXCESS OF IDLE SPEED, AND TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN WATERCRAFT MAY NOT BE OPERATED UPON THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY IN EXCESS OF IDLE SPEED WITHIN FIFTY FEET OF CERTAIN OBJECTS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. 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 the waters of this State in excess of idle speed within 50 100 feet of a moored or an anchored vessel, wharf, dock, bulkhead, pier, or a person in the water, or within 100 yards of the Atlantic Ocean coast line. The prohibitions contained in this item (6) do not apply to an unoccupied, moored vessel or watercraft;
(b) operate a personal watercraft, specialty propcraft, or vessel while upon the intracoastal waterways of this State in excess of idle speed within fifty feet of a moored or an anchored vessel, wharf, dock, bulkhead, pier, or person in the water;
(c) the prohibitions contained in this item do not apply to a vessel or watercraft that is unoccupied and moored in open water;"
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.