The mayors of Norway missed their goal to ban jet skis. Threatened with class action lawsuits and the like, the mayors were left with nothing. They had to give in to the wants of PWC riders. According to an article published in the Norwegian online magazine, SLTE, a large group of riders met with lawyers and stood their ground against the mayors. The battle between local mayors and personal watercraft riders had been going on since 1997.
The riders and attorneys based their legal actions on the new Dispute Act that was brought into play in 2008. The Act states that a large group of people or interest groups may initiate legal proceedings against laws such as the ones local mayors wanted to implement.
The long standing ban on jet skis was removed. It was a strict ban and we’re glad the Norwegian personal water craft riders and attorneys won their. The ban restricted skis to only 400 meters offshore. Riders were only allowed to travel at 5 knots in areas with land on two sides up to 800 meters in salt water and 1000 meters in fresh water. These particular regulations were difficult to comprehend.
Today, PWC’s can follow the same laws and regulations of all other boats. The government did make allowances for the local mayors to have an option to regulate boats/pwc in some areas. A few mayors went ballistic over the loss and decided they wanted to ban skis altogether. Furthermore, the mayors sent new regulations out for a public hearing. Those angry local mayors were denied by a higher form of government. A statement sent out by the superior government reads that jet skis can be regulated in special harbors and other small areas such as beaches.
The fight was won by the personal watercraft community. Kudos!
Thats awesome!! Too many crazy politicians want to ban too many things.
I completely agree!
Any ahole that is against a PWC has never ridden one or is to much of a jackass to know how to have fun
Dave
PWC owner and rider, age 56