TO AMEND SECTION 50-21-870(B)(6) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO PROVISIONS THAT REGULATE THE OPERATION OF VARIOUS TYPES OF WATERCRAFT, TO INCREASE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN A WATERCRAFT AND ANOTHER OBJECT NEAR 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)    operate a personal watercraft, specialty propcraft, or vessel while upon the 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; or furthermore 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. The prohibitions contained in this item (6) do not apply to an unoccupied, moored vessel or watercraft;"

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.