Operating a PWC

In North Dakota, these are the operating laws for PWC.

• It is illegal to operate a PWC between sunset and sunrise unless the PWC is equipped with the required navigation lights.
• It is illegal to operate a PWC at greater than “slow, no wake speed” within 100 feet of:
  • A person fishing from a shoreline
  • A swimmer
  • A swimming or diving raft
  • An occupied, anchored, or unpowered vessel
• It is illegal to operate a PWC in a way that unnecessarily endangers others or their property. Specifically, it is illegal to:
  • Weave your PWC through congested waterway traffic.
  • Operate your PWC so that you must swerve at the last possible moment in order to avoid collision.
  • Jump the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that vessel.
  • Operate in any way that is not reasonable or prudent.
• It is illegal to operate your PWC through emergent or floating vegetation at greater than “slow, no wake speed.”
• It is illegal to chase, harass, or disturb wildlife with your PWC.