ASSEMBLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1011

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 29, 1996

      The Assembly Local Government Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1011.

      Assembly Bill No. 1011 permits the governing body of a municipality to restrict the operation of personal watercraft which are commonly referred to as jet skis. Section 1 of the bill amends section 18 of P.L.1962, c.73 (C.12:7-34.53) to permit the governing body of a municipality or any other subdivision of the State to adopt a resolution or ordinance restricting the operation of personal watercraft, as geographical conditions dictate and the municipality or other subdivision may determine.

      The bill allows such an ordinance or resolution to prohibit or restrict the operation of personal watercraft within 100 feet of residential dwelling units, beaches, the shoreline, persons in the water, fishing piers or other vessels. The bill also allows a municipality or other political subdivision to prohibit or restrict the operation of personal watercraft during certain hours of the day, prohibit the towing of a water skier by personal watercraft and restrict the rental of personal watercraft within the territorial limits of that municipality or other subdivision.

      The bill authorizes the Bureau of Marine Law Enforcement and any member of a county or municipal police department to enforce the provisions of the bill.

      This bill also repeals section 6 of P.L.1993, c.299 (C.12:7-67) which provided that county or municipal regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of P.L.1993, c.299 (C.12:7-62 et seq.) would be null and void.

      Assembly Bill No. 1011 was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996-1997 legislative session pending technical review. As reported by the committee, the bill contains changes required by technical review which has been performed.