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H.B. 92

             1     

BOATING REVISIONS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Richard A. Greenwood

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the State Boating Act by amending provisions relating to boating.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    provides definitions;
             13          .    provides that the operator of a vessel who has reason to believe that the operator
             14      may have been involved in an accident resulting in property damage or injury to or
             15      the death of a person shall:
             16              .    immediately stop the vessel at the scene of the accident or as close to it as safely
             17      possible; and
             18              .    remain at the scene of the accident until the operator has fulfilled certain
             19      requirements;
             20          .    provides that if the operator of a vessel has reason to believe the operator may have
             21      been involved in an accident only after leaving the scene of the accident, the
             22      operator shall immediately comply as nearly as possible with certain requirements;
             23          .    provides penalties for a person who violates the requirement to stop a vessel at the
             24      scene of an accident and remain at the scene until the operator has fulfilled certain
             25      requirements if the accident resulted in property damage or injury to or the death of
             26      a person;
             27          .    provides that the operator of a motorboat may not exceed a wakeless speed while a


             28      person is riding upon certain portions of the motorboat; and
             29          .    makes technical changes.
             30      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             31          None
             32      Other Special Clauses:
             33          None
             34      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             35      AMENDS:
             36          73-18-13, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 2
             37          73-18-15.1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 256
             38      ENACTS:
             39          73-18-13.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             40          73-18-13.2, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             41          73-18-13.3, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             42     
             43      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             44          Section 1. Section 73-18-13 is amended to read:
             45           73-18-13. Duties of operator involved in accident -- Notification and reporting
             46      procedures -- Use of accident reports -- Giving false information as misdemeanor.
             47          (1) As used in this section, "agent" has the same meaning as provided in Section
             48      41-6a-404 .
             49          (2) (a) It is the duty of the operator of a vessel involved in an accident, if [he] the
             50      operator can do so without seriously endangering [his] the operator's own vessel, crew, or
             51      passengers, to render aid to those affected by the accident as may be practicable.
             52          (b) The operator shall also give [his] the operator's name, address, and identification of
             53      [his] the operator's vessel in writing to:
             54          (i) any person injured; or [to]
             55          (ii) the owner of any property damaged in the accident.
             56          (3) (a) The board shall adopt rules governing the notification and reporting procedure
             57      for vessels involved in accidents.
             58          (b) The rules shall be consistent with federal requirements.


             59          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), all accident reports:
             60          (i) are protected and shall be for the confidential use of the division or other state,
             61      local, or federal agencies having use for the records for official governmental statistical,
             62      investigative, and accident prevention purposes; and
             63          (ii) may be disclosed only in a statistical form that protects the privacy of any person
             64      involved in the accident.
             65          (b) The division shall disclose a written accident report and its accompanying data to:
             66          (i) a person involved in the accident, excluding a witness to the accident;
             67          (ii) a person suffering loss or injury in the accident;
             68          (iii) an agent, parent, or legal guardian of a person described in Subsections (4)(b)(i)
             69      and (ii);
             70          (iv) a member of the press or broadcast news media;
             71          (v) a state, local, or federal agency that uses the records for official governmental,
             72      investigative, or accident prevention purposes;
             73          (vi) law enforcement personnel when acting in their official governmental capacity;
             74      and
             75          (vii) a licensed private investigator.
             76          (c) Information provided to a member of the press or broadcast news media under
             77      Subsection (4)(b)(iv) may only include:
             78          (i) the name, age, sex, and city of residence of each person involved in the accident;
             79          (ii) the make and model year of each vehicle involved in the accident;
             80          (iii) whether or not each person involved in the accident was covered by a vehicle
             81      insurance policy;
             82          (iv) the location of the accident; and
             83          (v) a description of the accident that excludes personal identifying information not
             84      listed in Subsection (4)(c)(i).
             85          (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)[(b)](c), an accident report may not be used
             86      as evidence in any civil or criminal trial, arising out of an accident.
             87          (b) Upon demand of any person who has, or claims to have, made the report, or upon
             88      demand of any court, the division shall furnish a certificate showing that a specified accident
             89      report has or has not been made to the division solely to prove a compliance or a failure to


             90      comply with the requirement that a report be made to the division.
             91          (c) Accident reports may be used as evidence when necessary to prosecute charges
             92      filed in connection with a violation of Subsection (6).
             93          (6) Any person who gives false information, knowingly or having reason to believe it is
             94      false, in an oral or written report as required in this chapter, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
             95          Section 2. Section 73-18-13.1 is enacted to read:
             96          73-18-13.1. Accident involving property damage -- Duties of operator, occupant,
             97      and owner -- Penalties.
             98          (1) As used in this section, "reason to believe" means information from which a
             99      reasonable person would believe that the person may have been involved in an accident.
             100          (2) (a) The operator of a vessel who has reason to believe that the operator may have
             101      been involved in an accident resulting only in damage to another vessel or other property shall
             102      remain at the scene of the accident until the operator has fulfilled the requirements of Section
             103      73-18-13 .
             104          (b) If the operator has reason to believe that the operator may have been involved in an
             105      accident resulting in damage to another vessel or other property only after leaving the scene of
             106      the accident, the operator shall immediately comply as nearly as possible with the requirements
             107      of Section 73-18-13 .
             108          (3) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a class B
             109      misdemeanor.
             110          Section 3. Section 73-18-13.2 is enacted to read:
             111          73-18-13.2. Accident involving injury -- Stop at accident -- Penalty.
             112          (1) As used in this section:
             113          (a) "Reason to believe" means information from which a reasonable person would
             114      believe that the person may have been involved in an accident.
             115          (b) "Serious bodily injury" means bodily injury which involves a substantial risk of
             116      death, unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or
             117      protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.
             118          (2) (a) The operator of a vessel who has reason to believe that the operator may have
             119      been involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person shall:
             120          (i) immediately stop the vessel at the scene of the accident or as close to it as safely


             121      possible; and
             122          (ii) remain at the scene of the accident until the operator has fulfilled the requirements
             123      of Section 73-18-13 .
             124          (b) If the operator of a vessel has reason to believe the operator may have been
             125      involved in an accident only after leaving the scene of the accident, the operator shall
             126      immediately comply as nearly as possible with the requirements of Section 73-18-13 .
             127          (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a person who violates the provisions of
             128      Subsection (2):
             129          (i) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if the accident resulted in injury to any person;
             130      and
             131          (ii) shall be fined not less than $750.
             132          (b) A person who violates the provisions of Subsection (2):
             133          (i) is guilty of a third degree felony if the accident resulted in serious bodily injury to a
             134      person; and
             135          (ii) shall be fined not less than $750.
             136          Section 4. Section 73-18-13.3 is enacted to read:
             137          73-18-13.3. Accident involving death -- Stop at accident -- Penalty.
             138          (1) As used in this section, "reason to believe" means information from which a
             139      reasonable person would believe that the person may have been involved in an accident.
             140          (2) (a) The operator of a vessel who has reason to believe that the operator may have
             141      been involved in an accident resulting in the death of a person shall:
             142          (i) immediately stop the vessel at the scene of the accident or as close to it as safely
             143      possible; and
             144          (ii) remain at the scene of the accident until the operator has fulfilled the requirements
             145      of Section 73-18-13 .
             146          (b) If the operator of a vessel has reason to believe the operator may have been
             147      involved in an accident only after leaving the scene of the accident, the operator shall
             148      immediately comply as nearly as possible with the requirements of Section 73-18-13 .
             149          (3) A person who violates the provisions of Subsection (2) is guilty of a third degree
             150      felony and shall be fined not less than $750.
             151          Section 5. Section 73-18-15.1 is amended to read:


             152           73-18-15.1. Vessel navigation and steering laws.
             153          (1) The operator of a vessel shall maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing at all
             154      times to avoid the risk of collision.
             155          (2) When the operators of two motorboats approach each other where there is risk of
             156      collision, each operator shall alter course to the right and pass on the left side of the other.
             157          (3) When the operators of two motorboats are crossing paths and are at risk of a
             158      collision, the operator of the vessel that has the other vessel on its right side shall keep out of
             159      the way and yield right-of-way if necessary.
             160          (4) The operator of any vessel overtaking any other vessel shall keep out of the way of
             161      the vessel being overtaken.
             162          (5) The operator of a vessel underway shall keep out of the way of a:
             163          (a) vessel not under command;
             164          (b) vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver;
             165          (c) vessel engaged in fishing; and
             166          (d) sailing vessel.
             167          (6) If the operator of one of two vessels is to keep out of the way, the other vessel
             168      operator shall maintain his course and speed unless it becomes apparent the other vessel is not
             169      taking the appropriate action.
             170          (7) In narrow channels an operator of a vessel underway shall keep to the right of the
             171      middle of the channel.
             172          (8) The operator of a vessel shall proceed at a safe speed at all times so that the
             173      operator can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a
             174      distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances or conditions.
             175          (9) (a) When the operators of two sailboats are approaching one another so as to
             176      involve risk of collision, one of the operators shall keep out of the way of the other as follows:
             177          (i) when each has the wind on a different side, the operator of the vessel that has the
             178      wind on the left side shall keep out of the way of the other;
             179          (ii) when both have the wind on the same side, the operator of the vessel that is to the
             180      windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel that is to leeward; and
             181          (iii) if the operator of a vessel with the wind on the left side sees a vessel to windward
             182      and cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on the left or on the


             183      right side, the operator shall keep out of way of the other vessel.
             184          (b) For purposes of this Subsection (9), the windward side shall be the side opposite
             185      that on which the mainsail is carried.
             186          (10) The operator of any vessel may not exceed a wakeless speed when within 150 feet
             187      of:
             188          (a) another vessel;
             189          (b) a person in or floating on the water;
             190          (c) a water skier being towed by another boat;
             191          (d) a water skier that had been towed behind the operator's vessel unless the skier is
             192      still surfing or riding in an upright stance on the wake created by the vessel;
             193          (e) a water skier that had been towed behind another vessel and the skier is still surfing
             194      or riding in an upright stance on the wake created by the other vessel;
             195          (f) a shore fisherman;
             196          (g) a launching ramp;
             197          (h) a dock; or
             198          (i) a designated swimming area.
             199          (11) The operator of a motorboat is responsible for any damage or injury caused by the
             200      wake produced by the operator's motorboat.
             201          (12) (a) [Except as provided in Subsection (12)(b), the] The operator of a motorboat
             202      [that is less than 65 feet in length] may not exceed a wakeless speed while any person is riding
             203      upon [the bow decking, gunwales, transom, seatbacks, or motor cover.] any portion of the
             204      motorboat not:
             205          (i) designed by the manufacturer as a riding location; and
             206          (ii) contained within seatbacks, gunwales, or rails designed and installed by the
             207      manufacturer to prevent the passenger from falling overboard.
             208          (b) A person operating a personal watercraft is exempt from the requirement under
             209      Subsection (12)(a).
             210          [(b) Subsection (12)(a) does not apply if the motorboat is:]
             211          [(i) between 16 feet and 65 feet in length; and]
             212          [(ii) the motorboat is equipped with adequate rails or other safeguards to prevent a
             213      person from falling overboard.]


             214          [(13) If a person is riding upon the bow decking of a motorboat that does not have
             215      designed seating for passengers, the person shall straddle one of the upright supports of the
             216      bow rail and may not block the vision of the operator.]
             217          [(14)] (13) The operator of a vessel may not tow a water skier or a person on another
             218      device:
             219          (a) unless an onboard observer, who is at least eight years of age, is designated by the
             220      operator to watch the person being towed; or
             221          (b) between sunset and sunrise.
             222          [(15)] (14) A person who violates this section is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.




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    as of 1-24-12 11:11 AM


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