Two new laws for Jersey boaters; what are they?

Before raising anchor and setting sail from the Jersey Shore this Fourth of July holiday weekend , there are new boating regulations in effect for the 2024 boating season in New Jersey that you need to know.

New boating laws for the Jersey Shore

The new regulations from New Jersey State Police's Maritime Services Bureau address rider safety and water-surface activities .

The first regulation says personal watercraft drivers can’t put someone between themselves and the controls.

So, now you can’t have a passenger sit in front of the driver. Boating rules also say all personal watercraft passengers must be able to hold on to the person in front of them or hold on to the handholds.

The second regulation doubles the distance waterskiing boats — or any craft pulling a passenger on a rope or line — has to stay away from people and objects.

Those boats now must stay at least 200 feet away from the shoreline, dock and pier, and need to maintain that distance between swimmers, other boats and buoys.

The New Jersey State Police also announced the new boating regulations through a post on its Facebook page .

And if you happen to be invited to join someone's boat party this summer, check out these tips to make sure you're invited back.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Two new laws for Jersey boaters; what are they?