Bill Text: FL S0846 | 2016 | Regular Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: Divers-down Warning Devices

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2016-04-01 - Chapter No. 2016-171 [S0846 Detail]

Download: Florida-2016-S0846-Enrolled.html
       ENROLLED
       2016 Legislature                                   CS for SB 846
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                              2016846er
    1  
    2         An act relating to divers-down warning devices;
    3         amending s. 327.331, F.S.; revising the definitions of
    4         the terms “divers-down buoy,” “divers-down flag,” and
    5         “divers-down symbol”; defining the term “divers-down
    6         warning device”; expanding the types of indicators or
    7         devices allowed to be used to signal the presence of
    8         submerged divers; specifying requirements for divers
    9         down warning devices; amending ss. 327.395 and 327.73,
   10         F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the
   11         act; reenacting s. 327.33(1), F.S., relating to
   12         reckless or careless operation of a vessel, to
   13         incorporate the amendment made to s. 327.331, F.S., in
   14         a reference thereto; providing an effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Section 327.331, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   19  read:
   20         327.331 Divers; definitions; divers-down warning device
   21  flag or buoy required; obstruction to navigation of certain
   22  waters; penalty.—
   23         (1) As used in this section:
   24         (a) “Diver” means a person who is wholly or partially
   25  submerged in the waters of the state and is equipped with a face
   26  mask and snorkel or underwater breathing apparatus.
   27         (b) “Divers-down buoy” means a buoyant device, other than a
   28  vessel, which displays a divers-down symbol of at least 12
   29  inches by 12 inches on three or four flat sides, which is
   30  prominently visible on the water’s surface when in use.
   31         (c) “Divers-down flag” means a flag that displays a divers
   32  down symbol and that meets the following specifications:
   33         1. Is The flag must be square or rectangular. If
   34  rectangular, the length must not be less than the height, or
   35  more than 25 percent longer than the height. The flag must have
   36  a wire or other stiffener to hold it fully unfurled and extended
   37  in the absence of a wind or breeze.
   38         2. The flag must consist of and has a divers-down symbol on
   39  each face. side
   40         2.Has with a white diagonal stripes on each face which
   41  begin stripe that begins at the top, staff-side of the flag and
   42  extend extends diagonally to the lower opposite corner.
   43         3.If rectangular, is of a length that is not less than the
   44  height or more than 25 percent longer than the height.
   45         4.Has a wire, or other stiffener, or is otherwise
   46  constructed to ensure that it remains fully unfurled and
   47  extended in the absence of a wind or breeze.
   48         3. The minimum size for any divers-down flag displayed on a
   49  buoy or float towed by the diver is 12 inches by 12 inches. The
   50  minimum size for any divers-down flag displayed from a vessel or
   51  structure is 20 inches by 24 inches.
   52         4. Any divers-down flag displayed from a vessel must be
   53  displayed from the highest point of the vessel or such other
   54  location which provides that the visibility of the divers-down
   55  flag is not obstructed in any direction.
   56         (d) “Divers-down symbol” means a rectangular or square red
   57  symbol with a white diagonal stripe. If rectangular, the length
   58  may must not be less than the height or more than 25 percent
   59  longer than the height. The width of the stripe must be 25
   60  percent of the height of the symbol and the stripes must be
   61  oriented in the same direction if multiple stripes are
   62  displayed.
   63         (e) “Divers-down warning device” means a divers-down flag,
   64  buoy, or other similar warning device that:
   65         1. Contains a divers-down symbol that is at least 12 inches
   66  by 12 inches in dimension when displayed from the water or at
   67  least 20 by 24 inches in dimension when displayed from a vessel;
   68         2. Is designed for, and used by, divers and dive vessels as
   69  a means to notify nearby boaters of the presence of a diver in
   70  the waters of the immediate area; and
   71         3. Is prominently visible when in use.
   72         (f)(e) “Underwater breathing apparatus” means any
   73  apparatus, whether self-contained or connected to a distant
   74  source of air or other gas, whereby a person wholly or partially
   75  submerged in water is enabled to obtain or reuse air or any
   76  other gas or gases for breathing without returning to the
   77  surface of the water.
   78         (2) All divers must prominently display a divers-down
   79  warning device flag or buoy in the area in which the diving
   80  occurs, other than when diving in an area customarily used for
   81  swimming only. A divers-down buoy may not be used or displayed
   82  onboard a vessel.
   83         (3) A diver or group of divers may not display one or more
   84  divers-down warning devices flags or buoys on a river, inlet, or
   85  navigation channel, except in case of emergency, in a manner
   86  that which shall unreasonably constitutes constitute a
   87  navigational hazard.
   88         (4) Divers shall make reasonable efforts to stay within 100
   89  feet of a divers-down warning device flag or buoy on rivers,
   90  inlets, and navigation channels. A person operating a vessel on
   91  a river, inlet, or navigation channel must make a reasonable
   92  effort to maintain a distance of at least 100 feet from any
   93  divers-down warning device flag or buoy.
   94         (5) Divers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300
   95  feet of a divers-down warning device flag or buoy on all waters
   96  other than rivers, inlets, and navigation channels. A person
   97  operating a vessel on waters other than a river, inlet, or
   98  navigation channel must make a reasonable effort to maintain a
   99  distance of at least 300 feet from any divers-down warning
  100  device flag or buoy.
  101         (6) A vessel other than a law-enforcement law enforcement
  102  or rescue vessel that approaches within 100 feet of a divers
  103  down warning device flag or buoy on a river, inlet, or
  104  navigation channel, or within 300 feet of a divers-down warning
  105  device flag or buoy on waters other than a river, inlet, or
  106  navigation channel, must proceed no faster than is necessary to
  107  maintain headway and steerageway.
  108         (7) A divers-down warning device flag or buoy may not be
  109  displayed once all divers are aboard or ashore. A person may not
  110  operate any vessel displaying a divers-down warning device flag
  111  unless the vessel has one or more divers in the water.
  112         (8) A divers-down warning device displayed from a vessel
  113  must be displayed from the highest point of the vessel or
  114  another location that ensures that the visibility of the divers
  115  down warning device is not obstructed from any direction.
  116         (9)(8) Except as provided in s. 327.33, a violation of this
  117  section is a noncriminal infraction punishable as provided in s.
  118  327.73.
  119         Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 327.395, Florida
  120  Statutes, is amended to read:
  121         327.395 Boating safety identification cards.—
  122         (3) Any commission-approved boater education or boater
  123  safety course, course-equivalency examination developed or
  124  approved by the commission, or temporary certificate examination
  125  developed or approved by the commission must include a component
  126  regarding diving vessels, awareness of divers in the water,
  127  divers-down warning devices flags and buoys, and the
  128  requirements of s. 327.331.
  129         Section 3. Paragraph (u) of subsection (1) of section
  130  327.73, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  131         327.73 Noncriminal infractions.—
  132         (1) Violations of the following provisions of the vessel
  133  laws of this state are noncriminal infractions:
  134         (u) Section 327.331, relating to divers-down warning
  135  devices flags and buoys, except for violations meeting the
  136  requirements of s. 327.33.
  137  
  138  Any person cited for a violation of any provision of this
  139  subsection shall be deemed to be charged with a noncriminal
  140  infraction, shall be cited for such an infraction, and shall be
  141  cited to appear before the county court. The civil penalty for
  142  any such infraction is $50, except as otherwise provided in this
  143  section. Any person who fails to appear or otherwise properly
  144  respond to a uniform boating citation shall, in addition to the
  145  charge relating to the violation of the boating laws of this
  146  state, be charged with the offense of failing to respond to such
  147  citation and, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
  148  second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
  149  775.083. A written warning to this effect shall be provided at
  150  the time such uniform boating citation is issued.
  151         Section 4. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  152  made by this act to section 327.331, Florida Statutes, in a
  153  reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 327.33, Florida
  154  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  155         327.33 Reckless or careless operation of vessel.—
  156         (1) It is unlawful to operate a vessel in a reckless
  157  manner. A person is guilty of reckless operation of a vessel who
  158  operates any vessel, or manipulates any water skis, aquaplane,
  159  or similar device, in willful or wanton disregard for the safety
  160  of persons or property at a speed or in a manner as to endanger,
  161  or likely to endanger, life or limb, or damage the property of,
  162  or injure any person. Reckless operation of a vessel includes,
  163  but is not limited to, a violation of s. 327.331(6). Any person
  164  who violates a provision of this subsection commits a
  165  misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
  166  775.082 or s. 775.083.
  167         Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.

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