Title 12, Title 12: COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION

12:7-58. Work release program 10. a. A person who has been convicted of violating section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46), and who has been imprisoned in a county jail or workhouse in the county in which the offense was committed, shall not be released after commitment until the…

12:7-59. Written notice of penalties 11. A person shall receive written notice of the penalties under section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46) and section 9 of P.L.1986, c.39 (C.12:7-57), when that person is issued a license to operate a vessel, a registration certificate, a cert…

12:7-60 Approved boat safety courses. 1. a. The Superintendent of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall establish a list of approved boat safety courses, offered by public or private persons or agencies for profit or otherwise and taught by approved boat s…

12:7-61 Operation of power vessels, personal watercraft; boat safety course requirements; violations. 2. a. A person who is under 16 years of age shall not operate a power vessel on the waters of this State, except that: (1) a person who is under 16 years of age but at least 13 y…

12:7-61.1 Schedule for completion of mandatory boat safety course. 7. Before operating a power vessel, including a personal watercraft, on the waterways of this State, the mandatory boat safety course required by section 2 of P.L.1987, c.453 (C.12:7-61) shall be successfully comp…

12:7-61.2 Written test in lieu of boat safety course for experienced boaters. 8. a. The Superintendent of State Police shall develop, and the superintendent, or a designee, shall administer, a written test for experienced boaters which shall be issued in lieu of completing the bo…

12:7-62. "Personal watercraft" defined 1. For the purposes of this act, "personal watercraft" shall mean a power vessel defined as a Class "A" vessel by the United States Coast Guard, and which: a. Is designed to be operated from a sitting, standing or kneeling position; b. Is eq…

12:7-63 Restrictions on operation of personal watercraft. 2. A person shall not operate a personal watercraft: a. On the waters of this State between sunset and sunrise, or during any time of restricted visibility as determined by an agent or officer of the Marine Law Enforcement…

12:7-64. Requirements for operator of personal watercraft 3. A person operating a personal watercraft shall at all times: a. Wear the safety switch lanyard while the personal watercraft is underway, provided that the personal watercraft is equipped with such a lanyard cut-off dev…

12:7-65. Floatation device required 4. A person operating a personal watercraft or any passenger on a personal watercraft shall at all times when the personal watercraft is underway, wear a United States Coast Guard Approved Type I, II, III, or Type V Hybrid Personal Flotation De…

12:7-66. Rules, regulations 5. The Boat Regulation Commission, subject to the approval of the Attorney General and consistent with section 14 of P.L.1962, c.73 (C.12:7-34.49) shall, pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et s…

12:7-67. Adoption, enforcement of ordinances, resolutions 6. a. The governing body of a county or municipality shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, relating to the operation of personal watercraft on the waters of this State which is inconsisten…

12:7-68. Operator permitted to tow water skier 7. The operator of a personal watercraft designed to accommodate three or more persons shall be permitted to tow a water skier, provided that the personal watercraft has the capacity to allow one of the persons to face the stern of t…

12:7-69 Violations; fines, penalties. 8. A person who violates any provision of P.L.1993, c.299 (C.12:7-62 et seq.) shall be subject to the fines and penalties enumerated pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-51). The Division of State Police in the Department of Law a…

12:7-70. Findings, declarations relative to boating 1. The Legislature finds and declares that numerous laws have been enacted over the past half-century concerning the regulation of boats and vessels; that many of the provisions of these laws are duplicative or outdated; that vi…

12:7-71 Definitions. 2. As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning: "Commission" means the Boat Regulation Commission established pursuant to section 14 of P.L.1962, c.73 (C.12:7-34.49); "Department" means the Department of Law and Public Saf…

12:7-72 Issuance of license to operate power vessel; requirements. 3. a. (1) Upon proper application therefor, the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall license a person to operate a power vessel on the nontidal waters of this State. A person shall …

12:7-73 Fees for certain licenses, deposit of revenues; digitized pictures. 4. a. The fee for a 48-month power vessel operator's license required pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1995, c.401 (C.12:7-72) shall be $18 and shall be paid to the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor…

12:7-74. Unlawful use, loan of operator's license; fine 5. a. A person who lends any operator's license required pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1995, c.401 (C.12:7-72) to another person shall be subject to a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100. b. A person owning or having…

12:7-74.1. Personal watercraft owner's liabilities 4. In addition to all other remedies permitted and duties required by law, the owner of a personal watercraft shall be jointly liable for damage incurred by another person operating the owner's personal watercraft if the owner kn…

12:7-75. Alteration of motor number, filing of statement 6. A person who possesses a motor, whether inboard or outboard, the motor number of which has been altered or mutilated, or who comes into possession of such a motor, shall at once file in writing with the Division of State…

12:7-76. Careless operation of vessel 7. a. A person who operates a vessel on the waters of this State, without due caution and circumspection, in a manner that endangers, or is likely to endanger, a person or property shall be guilty of careless operation. Careless operation sha…

12:7-77. Floatation devices required 8. A person shall not operate or allow another person to operate a vessel on the waters of this State unless the vessel has a serviceable United States Coast Guard approved personal flotation device for each person on board. Such devices shall…

12:7-78. Discard of debris; fine 9. a. A person shall not discard debris from a vessel that is on the waters of this State. A person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 for each offense. b. There shall be a rebuttable pr…

12:7-79. Stop, lay to by order of officer 10. A person operating a vessel on the waters of this State shall stop or lay to when so ordered by any law enforcement officer. L.1995,c.401,s.10.

12:7-80. Summons; arrest 11. a. A law enforcement officer may serve a summons on any person violating any provision of chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes. b. A law enforcement officer may arrest any person violating in his presence any provision of chapter 7 of Title 1…

12:7-81. Jurisdiction of courts 12. a. The Superior Court and every municipal court shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes. Each of these courts shall have jurisdiction to receive complaints, order arrests, issue summons…

12:7-82 Revocation, suspension of privilege to operate power vessel; conditions. 13. a. A court may revoke or suspend the privilege of a person to operate a power vessel if that person has been convicted of homicide in connection with the operation of a motor vehicle or of operat…

12:7-83. Violations, penalties 14. a. A person whose privilege, including any license or numbering, to operate a power vessel or a vessel that is 12 feet or greater in length has been suspended, revoked or prohibited shall not operate such a vessel on the waters of this State. b.…

12:7-84. Payment of fines 15. All fines imposed under chapter 7 of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes shall be paid to the court imposing the fines. Within 30 days after receipt, the court shall then transmit such fines to the Treasurer of the State of New Jersey for deposit into t…

12:7-85. Rules, regulations 16. a. The director, the commission and the Superintendent of State Police, whichever is appropriate and subject to the approval of the Attorney General, may promulgate such rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968…

12:7-86 Conditions for operation of personal watercraft without completion of boat safety course; violations, penalties; rules, regulations. 18. A person who is 16 years of age or older may operate a personal watercraft without having completed a boat safety course required pursu…

12:7-87 Warning sign required at pontoon boat rental businesses. 2. The owner of a business that rents pontoon boats to the general public shall prominently display a metallic warning sign measuring at least 24 inches by 24 inches at the entrance of the designated rental area. Th…

12:7A-1. Short title This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Boat Ownership Certificate Act." L. 1984, c. 152, s. 1, eff. June 15, 1987.

12:7A-10. Assignment of certificate of ownership Whenever marine equipment is sold in this State, the seller shall execute and deliver to the purchaser an assignment of the certificate of ownerhip. If a security interest exists at the time of the sale or if, in connection with th…

12:7A-11. Termination of security interest When the contract or term of the security agreement noted on the certificate of origin or certificate of ownership has been satisfied, the secured party shall deliver to the buyer the certificate of ownership thereto, executed as provide…

12:7A-12. Issuance of certificate of ownership a. The purchaser of any marine equipment for which a certificate of ownership is required in this State shall, within 10 days after its purchase, submit to the director evidence of the purchase. Upon presentation to the director of t…

12:7A-13. Duplicate certificate a. If a certificate of ownership or title papers are lost, the director may, upon proof by certification or otherwise in the manner required by him and if satisfied with the application, prepare a certificate of ownership, certify it and authorize …

12:7A-14. File of certificates The director shall retain a file of all certificates of ownership for a period, prescribed by him, beyond the date that the marine equipment described therein is no longer registered in this State. L. 1984, c. 152, s. 14, eff. June 15, 1987.

12:7A-15. Notation of security interest a. The director shall, on the record or abstract of any marine equipment registered with him which is subject to a security interest of which notice is required to be filed with with him, make a notation of the existence of the security int…

12:7A-16. Seizure of vessels a. If any marine equipment, numbered vessel, or documented vessel is seized, levied upon, or attached and taken into possession, actually or constructively, by virtue of judicial process issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in this State, or by…

12:7A-17. Failure to produce evidence of ownership a. Any marine equipment or vessel seized by the director, the State Marine Police Force or any law enforcement officer for failure to provide evidence of ownership as required by law or regulation, shall be held by the director, …

12:7A-18. Correction of defects; recording of foreign papers a. If the title papers or certificate of ownership are defective or improper, or if the marine equipment was purchased and its sale consummated in another state or country, in accordance with the laws of the state or co…

12:7A-19. Title papers required The director may refuse to issue a certificate of number for any vessel required to have the certificate, unless there is furnished to the director or his agent title papers or a certificate of ownership, if required for the vessel, in conformity t…

12:7A-2. Policy declaration The Legislature declares it to be a public policy of this State that certain vessels and hulls shall be titled. L. 1984, c. 152, s.2; amended by L. 1987, c. 138, s. 1.

12:7A-21. Dealers' possession of ownership documents a. Dealers for both new and used marine equipment in this State shall have a certificate of origin, certificate of ownership, or writing as provided in section 7 of this act for marine equipment in their possession. The directo…