(a) A person operating a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard-type engine cutoff switch shall attach the lanyard to his or her person, clothing, or personal flotation device, as appropriate for the specific vessel.

(b) No person shall operate a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a self-circling device if the self-circling device or engine throttle has been altered in any way that would impede or prevent the self-circling device from operating in its intended manner.

(c) Every personal watercraft shall, at all times, be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. Maneuvers that unreasonably or unnecessarily endanger life, limb, or property, including, but not limited to, jumping or attempting to jump the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that other vessel, operating the personal watercraft toward any person or vessel in the water and turning sharply at close range so as to spray the vessel or person, or operating at a rate of speed and proximity to another vessel so that either operator is required to swerve at the last minute to avoid collision, is unsafe or reckless operation of a vessel.

(d) A person shall not operate a personal watercraft at any time between the hours from sunset to sunrise. This subdivision does not apply to marine patrol, harbor police, or emergency personnel in the performance of their duties.

(e) This section does not apply to a performer who is engaged in a professional exhibition or to a person who is participating in a regatta, race, marine parade, tournament, exhibition, or other event sanctioned by the United States Coast Guard or authorized by a permit issued by the local entity having jurisdiction over the area where the event is held.

(f) Any violation of this section is an infraction.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 54, Sec. 5. (SB 1461) Effective January 1, 2015.)