30.69 Water skiing.

(1) Prohibited at certain times; exceptions.

(a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may operate a motorboat towing a person on water skis, aquaplane, or similar device unless one of the following applies:

1. There is in the motorboat a competent person in addition to the operator in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed.

2. Subject to s. 30.77 (3) (ab), the motorboat is equipped with a mirror that provides the operator with a wide field of vision to the rear.

(ag) An observer under par. (a) 1. shall be considered competent if that person can in fact observe the person being towed and relay any signals to the operator. This observer requirement does not apply to motorboats classified as Class A motorboats by the department actually operated by the persons being towed and so constructed as to be incapable of carrying the operator in or on the motorboat.

(am) No person may engage in water skiing, aquaplaning, or similar activity, at any time from sunset to sunrise. This restriction of the hours of water skiing does not prevent restrictions of the hours of water skiing between sunrise and sunset by local ordinances enacted pursuant to s. 30.77 (3).

(b) Paragraphs (a), (ag), and (am) do not apply to duly authorized water ski tournaments, competitions, exhibitions, or trials therefor, where adequate lighting is provided.

(c) In addition to complying with pars. (a), (ag), and (am), no person may operate a personal watercraft that is towing a person who is on water skis, an aquaplane, or similar device unless the personal watercraft is designed to seat at least 3 persons.

(2) Careful and prudent operation. A person operating a motorboat having in tow a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar device shall operate such boat in a careful and prudent manner and at a reasonable distance from persons and property so as not to endanger the life or property of any person.

(3) Restrictions.

(a) No person operating a motorboat that is towing persons engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity may operate the motorboat within 100 feet of any occupied anchored boat, any personal watercraft or any marked swimming area or public boat landing.

(b) No person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity may get within 100 feet of a personal watercraft or allow the tow rope while in use to get within 100 feet of a personal watercraft.

(c) No person may operate a personal watercraft within 100 feet of any of the following:

1. A motorboat towing a person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity.

2. The tow rope of a motorboat towing a person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity.

3. A person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity.

(d) Paragraphs (a) to (c) do not apply to pickup or drop areas that are marked with regulatory markers and that are open to operators of personal watercraft and to persons and motorboats engaged in water skiing or similar activity.

(4) Intoxicated operation. No person may use water skis, an aquaplane or a similar device while under the influence of an intoxicant to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely using water skis, an aquaplane or a similar device, or under the combined influence of an intoxicant and any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely using water skis, an aquaplane or a similar device.

History: 1973 c. 302; 1985 a. 331; 1991 a. 257, 315, 316; 1993 a. 437; 2009 a. 31; 2017 a. 163.