How old do you have to be to drive in California?

How old do you have to be to drive a jet ski alone in California? How old do to drive someone else?

• Answer:

  658.5. Age limitations. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), no person under 16 years of age shall operate a vessel powered by a motor of greater than 15 horsepower, except for a vessel that does not exceed 30 feet in length and is designed to use wind as its principal source of propulsion, or a dinghy used directly between a moored vessel and the shoreline or between a moored vessel and another moored vessel. (b) Except as provided in subdivision (a), no person 12, 13, 14, or 15 years of age shall operate a vessel powered by a motor of greater than 15 horsepower, or a vessel that exceeds 30 feet in length and is designed to use wind as its principal source of propulsion, unless the person is accompanied in the vessel by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who is attentive and supervising the operation of the vessel. (c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any of the following: (1) A person who operates a vessel as a performer in a professional exhibition. (2) A person engaged in an organized regatta, vessel race, or water ski race. (3) A person engaged in a marine event authorized pursuant to Section 268. (d) Any person who violates this section, and any person who permits any other person under 16 years of age to operate a vessel in violation of this section, is guilty of an infraction.