73-18-15.2. Minimum age of operators -- Boating safety course for youth to operate personal watercraft.
(1) A person under 16 years of age may not operate a motorboat on the waters of this state unless the person is under the on-board and direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age. A person under 16 years of age may operate a sailboat, if the person is under the direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age.
(2) A person who is at least 12 years of age or older but under 16 years of age may operate a personal watercraft provided he: is under the direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age; completes a boating safety course approved by the division; and has in his possession a boating safety certificate issued by the boating safety course provider.
(3) A person who is at least 16 years of age but under 18 years of age may operate a personal watercraft, if the person: completes a boating safety course approved by the division; and has in his possession a boating safety certificate issued by the boating safety course provider.
(4) A person required to attend a boating safety course under Subsectionneed not be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian while completing a boating safety course. (3)(a)
(5) A person may not give permission to another person to operate a vessel in violation of this section.
(6) As used in this section, "direct supervision" means oversight at a distance within which visual contact is maintained.
(7) The division may collect fees set by the division in accordance with Sectionfrom each person who takes the division's boating safety course to help defray the cost of the boating safety course. 63J-1-504 Money collected from the fees collected under Subsectionshall be deposited in the Boating Account. (7)(a)
(8) A violation of this section is an infraction.