I see lots of tickets coming. I am all about safety but this will be tuff.

I didn’t think about that! Impossible to do while trolling.

How long till they make us wear life jackets? “Click it or ticket”

That would require someone to actually patrol the lakes

(b) A motorboat operator may not operate a motorboat less
than 26 feet in length and equipped by the manufacturer with an
engine cutoff switch while the motorboat is under way and moving at
greater than headway speed without first verifying that the switch
is operational and fully functional and properly attaching the
lanyard or wireless attachment, as appropriate for the specific
motorboat, to the operator's body or to the clothing or personal
flotation device being worn by the operator.

Look at the new law and the definition of "Headway Speed". I don't think it will be an issue for trolling. Also, a 24 to 26 ft enforcement boat is much easier to spot at a distance than in reverse to see if a lanyard is attached to your britches. IMO, its to target the idiots on jet fleas and wake boats.

It's a non issue for trolling and also a non issue when loading and unloading at the ramp.

Good to know! I hadn’t read through it closely but that sounds like a much better and more reasonable law then I initially thought.

I need to find a lanyard that will fasten to shorts or sweat pants that do not have belt loops.

I keep it fastened to my PFD, I take off the PFD when I stop and leave it in the drivers seat still attached to the lanyard....

They are now selling wireless safety tethers. It kills the motor if MOB occurs. The question is that if this was a guide boat would everyone onboard have to have one. Isn’t the goal to stop random people falling out of boats getting killed by the propeller?

I looked this up on the Texas Parks and Wildlife web. It states "A personal watercraft (PWC) is defined as a type of motorboat which is specifically designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, or kneeling ON the vessel rather than INSIDE the vessel. The term PWC includes jet skies, wet bikes, etc." It goes on to say that anyone operating a PWC MUST wear the kill switch lanyard. So as I understand by reading this it does not apply to boats, if I am wrong in this by all means let me know as I don't want a ticket.

Enjoying retirement,

It includes all vessels under the length of 26', boats included. But if your boat was not factory equipped with one then you are ok.

My pontoon. Oat was not factory equipped so I should be legal. Guess I will see what they say the first time I get pulled over. If the GW gets onto too bad then Indio go ahead and install 1.

§ 55.302. Definitions
The following words and terms, when used in this undesignated head, shall have
the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) Department—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
(2) Governing board—The governing board of an incorporated city
or town, a commissioners court of a county, or the governing board of a political
subdivision of the state created pursuant to the Texas Constitution, Article XVI, §59,
as identified in the Parks and Wildlife Code, §31.092(c).
[b](3) Headway speed—Slow, idle speed, or speed only fast enough to
maintain steerage on course.[/b]
(4) Regulated area—Any area on public water designated and posted
“Slow, No Wake” area by the governing board.
(5) Slow, no wake—Headway speed without creating a swell or wake.

Read headway speed. It states 1) slow or 2) idle speed or 3) speed only fast enough to maintain steerage. If your in a some wind and need to speed up a bit to maintain steerage then 3 applies.

Look at walking speeds on land. Walking pace can from 3.0 mph to 4.5 mph. Our boat easing around the lake at 2000 rpm is 4.2 on GPS. That's a walking pace meaning slow. I think if your up on plane, you'll need your lanyard attached. Putt putting around, should be ok.

Does not apply at idle speeds.

I went into the GW office yesterday and asked about this new law I speciffically asked about trolling at the speed of 2 miles or less. I was told that if I use my trolling motor then I do not need to have the kill switch connected to my body BUT if I use my gas motor then I MUST have it hooked to me! He told me that if the gas engine is on then I have to have the kill switch hooked to me this also means that when I launch or load my boat on to my trailer I have to have the kill switch attached.