Under present law, it is unlawful for any person under 12 to operate a personal watercraft upon the waters of Tennessee unless such person is under the direct supervision of an adult. Effective on the date that this bill becomes a law, this bill increases the minimum age for operating a personal watercraft from 12 to 16. Effective July 1, 2025, this bill makes it a Class C misdemeanor offense for a person to own, operate, or to allow another person to operate a personal watercraft upon the waters of Tennessee unless such person is able to furnish proof of financial responsibility for the operation of the personal watercraft in the amounts required for operation of a motor vehicle under the financial responsibility law. The present law minimums under the financial responsibility law are a bond, liability policy, or cash deposit of $65,000 or a split-limit auto policy at least $50,000 for bodily injury or death ($25,000 per person for at least two persons), and $25,000 for property damage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 69-9-505