What are Florida's rules for jet skis?

The rider must wear an approved life jacket that is not inflatable, and the operator must attach the engine cutoff lanyard, if the craft has one, to themselves, their clothing or their life jacket. No personal watercraft may run from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, even with lights. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, needs the Boating Safety Education ID card, or, to rent, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's temporary certificate, good for 90 days.

Weaving through crowded boat traffic, jumping another boat's wake unreasonably close, and swerving at the last moment are reckless operation, a first-degree misdemeanor. Watch the posted zones: Idle Speed, No Wake means the slowest speed that still lets you steer, and Slow Speed, Minimum Wake means fully off plane and settled in the water. Manatee protection zones limit speed and where boats may go once their signs are posted; the commission publishes maps of them county by county, with the seasonal changes, and local governments set other boating restricted areas.

A business that rents personal watercraft needs the commission's no-cost Livery Operator Permit and at least $500,000 of insurance per person and $1 million per event, and must give every renter instruction before renting and before riding. A livery may not rent anything but a boat you power yourself to anyone under 18. The commission does not publish a list of permitted rental businesses.

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