N.C. legislators approve age raise for PWC operators

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina lawmakers have raised the minimum age for operating personal watercraft in the state to 14 in a bill that is now heading to Gov. Mike Easley’s desk, the Associated Press reported in a story yesterday.

The age to operate personal watercraft is currently 12, but the North Carolina House voted 92-14 Monday night on final legislative approval to raise that age in the interest of water safety, AP reported.

If Easley signs the bill into law, children who are 12 before Nov. 1 would be able to continue to operate the watercraft.

The bill also would require personal watercraft users who are 14 and 15 to either share the craft with someone who is at least 18 or have completed an approved boating safety education course, according to AP.

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