The crash, first detailed by KXAN Austin, has prompted a new petition calling for jet skis to be banned outright on Lake Austin. The Change.org petition, titled “Keep Lake Austin Safe: Prohibit Personal Watercraft (Jet Skis),” launched in August and asks city officials to expand the current holiday-only restrictions into a year-round ban or, at minimum, a prohibition covering every summer weekend.
Right now, the law only reaches so far. Under City of Austin Ordinance 8-5-81, personal watercraft — jet skis, wet bikes, and motorized surfboards — are banned on Lake Austin only during three holiday windows each year: Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day from sunset July 3 to sunrise July 5, and Labor Day weekend. This year’s Labor Day ban remains in effect until sunrise Tuesday. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are allowed on the lake even during those ban periods.
A Single Boat Covering Nearly 30 Miles
Austin resident Kim Chappel said additional regulations may be needed as Lake Austin becomes more crowded, and that she believes a tragedy may be imminent given current conditions on the water. Lake Austin residents have reported increasing numbers of boats and watercraft on the lake, and Chappel said crowded conditions are especially worrying for families with children, adding that she considers every weekend on the lake dangerous because it is more packed than it has ever been.
Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest times of year on Austin’s lakes, yet the enforcement resources on the water haven’t kept pace, according to Duchen’s office. The Austin Police Department’s Lake Patrol unit runs just one patrol boat on weekends to cover nearly 30 miles of shoreline across Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake, and Duchen’s office described the unit as understaffed. Chappel also said no one is currently responsible for enforcing limits on rental jet skis and rental boats, and Duchen’s office said businesses are renting personal watercraft to unlicensed riders.
What The Law Actually Requires
Texas law requires anyone born on or after September 1, 1993, to complete a state-approved boater education course and carry certification before operating a jet ski or any motorized vessel with an engine over 15 horsepower, according to Duchen’s office. Statewide, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department rules also require an uncertified rider to be accompanied aboard by an authorized adult at least 18 years old. Operating a personal watercraft without required certification, or violating other operational rules, can bring fines, and failing to complete a court-ordered boater safety course within 90 days escalates the offense to a Parks and Wildlife Code Class A misdemeanor…