Z-0153.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5217

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senators Owen, Rinehart, Swecker, McAuliffe, C. Anderson, Winsley and Kohl; by request of Parks and Recreation Commission

Read first time 01/16/95.  Referred to Committee on Ecology & Parks.

Requiring personal flotation devices for children on certain recreational vessels.

    AN ACT Relating to personal flotation devices; and amending RCW 88.12.115.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 88.12.115 and 1993 c 244 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) No person may operate or permit the operation of a vessel on the waters of the state without a personal flotation device on board for each person on the vessel.  Each personal flotation device shall be in serviceable condition, of an appropriate size, and readily accessible.

    (2) No person may operate or permit to be operated a recreational vessel under twenty-six feet in length unless each individual twelve years of age or younger on an open deck of the vessel wears a United States coast guard-approved personal flotation device.

(3) Except as provided in RCW 88.12.015, a violation of subsection (1) or (2) of this section is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW if the vessel is not carrying passengers for hire.

    (((3))) (4) A violation of subsection (1) or (2) of this section is a misdemeanor punishable under RCW 9.92.030, if the vessel is carrying passengers for hire.

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