Makes certain personal watercraft violations a misdemeanor.
Summary
H6063 amends Rhode Island’s Personal Watercraft Safety Act to increase the penalties for certain personal watercraft violations. Under the bill, violations of §§ 46-27-2(b) and 46-27-2(h), as well as violations of any provision of the chapter or related rules and regulations, would be treated as misdemeanors punishable by a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to six months, and a possible suspension of the privilege to operate a personal watercraft for up to six months per violation.
The bill also distinguishes other violations under the chapter and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management rules or regulations related to personal watercraft operation as civil violations, subject to a fine of up to $250 per violation. It assigns jurisdiction over those civil infractions to the Rhode Island traffic tribunal and takes effect upon passage.
Impact
The bill would revise Chapter 46-27 of the General Laws governing personal watercraft safety by expanding misdemeanor treatment to specified violations and clarifying that other violations are civil infractions. It increases potential criminal exposure, adds the possibility of operator privilege suspension, and confirms the traffic tribunal’s role in adjudicating civil violations tied to personal watercraft operation and DEM regulations.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill, with House passage by a 70-0 vote. No committee transcript is available, but the unanimous vote suggests broad agreement that stronger enforcement and clearer penalty structure for personal watercraft safety violations were appropriate.
Contention
No recorded committee debate is available, and the floor vote was unanimous, so there is little evidence of active controversy in the materials provided. The main policy distinction in the bill is between misdemeanor treatment for specified or more serious violations and civil penalties for other regulatory violations, but no opposing arguments are documented in the record supplied.