AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PERSONAL WATERCRAFT SAFETY ACT

HB 6063 upgrades penalties for specific personal watercraft safety violations from civil to criminal offenses. It makes violations of safety rules in sections 46-27-2(b) and 46-27-2(h) punishable as misdemeanors, with fines up to $500 or up to six months in jail per violation, plus potential six-month operating suspensions. Other safety rule violations remain civil offenses with $250 fines. The law directly affects personal watercraft operators in Rhode Island who break these specific safety provisions.