Scenic Hudson, along with a coalition of environmental groups, business and community associations, worked to advocate for passage of the jet ski regulation bill, which was passed by the New York State Legislature, and signed into law by Gov. Goerge E. Pataki in 2001. The law authorizes municipalities to establish vessel regulation zones intended to control - or even ban, if necessary - personal watercraft (PWC), also known as "jet skis," "waverunners," "waterbikes," etc.
This authority to establish vessel regulation zones is an important tool, particularly for cities, towns, and villages whose waterfronts are plagued by inappropriate operation of PWC around boat ramps, parks and small craft, such as kayaks, canoes and sailboats. With the passage of this law, communities may start to be proactive in efforts to significantly reduce environmental and noise impacts of these polluting, noisy and dangerous stunt craft.
With technical assistance from Scenic Hudson, the City of Poughkeepsie Common Council unanimously passed a local law in June 2001 establishing a Vessel Regulation Zone restricting jet skis to 5 mph within 300 feet of the entire two-mile length of the city's shoreline. Poughkeepsie was the first tidal Hudson River municipality to pass a local law subsequent to the state authorizing legislation. |
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| Jet skis pollute the water and have proven dangerous around kayaks and canoes. |
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