25.302.10 100th Legislative Session 8
2025 South Dakota Legislature
Senate Bill 8
Introduced by: Senator Crabtree
Underscores indicate new language.
Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
An Act to establish certain criminal offenses for boat operators and to provide 1
penalties therefor. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: 3
Section 1. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 22-16: 4
Any person who, while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or substances, in a 5
manner and to a degree prohibited by § 42-8-45, without design to effect death, operates 6
a boat, as defined by § 42-8-2, in a reckless manner and thereby causes the death of 7
another person, including an unborn child, is guilty of watercraft homicide, a Class 3 8
felony. 9
Section 2. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 22-18: 10
Any person who, while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or substances, in a 11
manner and to a degree prohibited by § 42-8-45, without design to effect serious bodily 12
injury, operates a boat, as defined by § 42-8-2, in a reckless manner and thereby causes 13
the serious bodily injury of another person, including an unborn child, is guilty of 14
watercraft battery, a Class 4 felony. 15
Section 3. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 42-8: 16
Any operator of a boat involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to any 17
person, who fails to immediately stop the boat at the scene of the accident and comply 18
with the provisions of §§ 42-8-56 through 42-8-58, inclusive, is guilty of a Class 6 felony. 19