Arkansas teenagers will have to demonstrate they can operate a personal watercraft before they get let loose on the water if Sen. Steve Faris, D-Malvern, gets his way. 

A bill Faris filed today would require residents under 18 to attend a special training course similar to one required for boat operators before they can use a personal watercraft on public lakes in the state. 

Known as “Rachel’s Bill,” Senate Bill 38 the measure requires the training be done in person, not online, and that the applicant be given a course so they can demonstrate their “ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motorboat or personal watercraft.”

The measure also requires the same alcohol and blood testing now used for motor vehicles be used for operating boats and personal watercraft.

Faris says he filed the measure for a friend whose 15-year daughter was killed in 2007 on Lake Hamilton in a personal watercraft accident.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 4:21 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.