Bill To Raise Age For Jet Ski Riding Is Sinking Fast

WFSU | By Jim Ash

Published January 27, 2016 at 5:51 PM EST

A Margate Democrat wants to raise the legal age to operate a jet ski from 14 to 16, but his bill is dead in the water.

A South Florida Democrat's bill to raise the legal age for riding jet skis is in trouble.

Conservative Republicans are complaining about personal liberty and an industry lobbyist warns sales for Riva Motorsports, the biggest dealer in Florida, would nosedive.

A frustrated Senator Jeremy Ring was forced to put his bill on hold.

“You know what, I know Riva very well. This is not an economic development issue. I don’t see that at all. I really don’t.”

Ring offered an amendment to let 14-year-old’s drive a jet ski with an adult sitting behind them, but that failed to persuade the committee. Five people died in jet-ski accidents in 2014 according to the latest statistics.

Ring is promising to negotiate with opponents. He says the bill was recommended by high school students, but it's not popular with his own children.