Restrictions for persons impaired from physical disabilities; special restricted certification; penalty for violation of restrictions.

(a) The Director of Public Safety, upon issuing a boater safety certification, shall have authority whenever the holder is impaired from a physical disability to impose restrictions suitable to the holder's operating ability with respect to the type of or special mechanical control devices required on a vessel which the holder may operate or other restrictions applicable to the holder as the Director of Public Safety or Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources may determine to be appropriate to assure the safe operation of a vessel by the holder.

(b) The Director of Public Safety may either issue a special restricted certification or may set forth restrictions upon the usual certification form in the issuance of certification under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The Commissioner of Conservation and National Resources may, upon receiving satisfactory evidence of any violation of the restrictions of certification subject to subsection (a), suspend the certification but the person shall be entitled to a hearing as upon a suspension under Section 33-5-75.

(d) It shall be a Class C misdemeanor for any person to operate a vessel in any manner in violation of the restrictions imposed in a restricted certification. Any fines collected for the violation of this section shall be deposited into the State Water Safety Fund.

(Acts 1994, No. 94-652, p. 1243, §14.)