Wisconsin Code § 30.678

Boating safety certificates; requirements; exemptions; operation by minors
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(1) MOTORBOATS OTHER
THAN PERSONAL WATERCRAFT. (a) No person under 10 years of
age may operate a motorboat.
(b) No person who is at least 10 years of age but under 12
years of age may operate a motorboat unless he or she is accompanied in the motorboat by a parent or guardian or by a person
who is at least 18 years of age and who is designated by a parent
or guardian and the parent, guardian, or designated adult holds a
valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a
valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1)
(c) or was born before January 1, 1989.
(c) No person who is at least 12 years of age but under 16
years of age may operate a motorboat unless one of the following
applies:
1. The person holds a valid boating safety certificate issued
under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is
honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c).
2. The person is accompanied in the motorboat by a parent or
guardian or by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who is
designated by a parent or guardian and the parent, guardian, or
designated adult holds a valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c) or was born before January 1, 1989.
(d) No person who was born on or after January 1, 1989, and
who is 16 years of age or older may operate a motorboat unless
one of the following applies:
1. The person holds a valid boating safety certificate issued
under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is
honored under s. 30.74 (1) (c).
2. The person is accompanied in the motorboat by another
person who is at least 18 years of age and that person holds a
valid boating safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or a
valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1)
(c) or was born before January 1, 1989.
(e) Paragraphs (a) to (d) do not apply to the operation of a personal watercraft.
(2) PERSONAL WATERCRAFT. (a) No person under 12 years
of age may operate a personal watercraft.
(b) No person who is 12 years of age or older but under 16
years of age may operate a personal watercraft unless he or she is
in possession of a valid certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) or
a valid boating safety certificate that is honored under s. 30.74 (1)
(c).

(c) No person who was born on or after January 1, 1989, and
who is 16 years of age or older may operate a personal watercraft
unless the person holds a valid safety certificate issued under s.
30.74 (1) (a) or a valid boating safety certificate that is honored
under s. 30.74 (1) (c).
(2m) PROOF OF CERTIFICATE. Any person who is required to
hold a safety certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1) (a) while operating a motorboat shall carry proof that the person holds a valid
safety certificate and shall display such proof to a law enforcement officer on request.
(3) EXEMPTION. Subsections (1) (b), (c), and (d) and (2) (b)
and (c) do not apply to a person while the person is operating a
motorboat as may be required as part of a boating safety course
under s. 30.74 (1).
(4) PARENT AND GUARDIAN LIABILITY. A violation of sub.
(1) (a), (b), (c), or (d) or (2) (a), (b), or (c) that is done with the
knowledge of a parent or guardian shall be considered a violation
by the parent or guardian and shall be punishable under s. 30.80.

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