HB 5401 Summary

• Establishes a default maximum vessel speed limit of 55 miles per hour on Michigan waters where no other speed limit has been set, with exceptions for emergencies, law enforcement, and the Great Lakes/Lake St. Clair (except within 1 mile of shoreline).

• Allows the Department of Natural Resources to establish reduced speed limits not exceeding 40 miles per hour upon receipt of a local government resolution requesting such restrictions.

• Authorizes temporary vessel speed limits (up to 14 days) by the Department, county emergency management coordinator, or county sheriff during emergency conditions, with maximum fines of $100 for first violations and $500 for subsequent violations.

• Permits temporary speed limits to be reissued once per calendar year (or twice if an application for temporary ordinance was submitted), and restricts such limits to September 1 through June 20, with limited exceptions through June 30.

• Requires operators to maintain slow-no wake speed within 100 feet of shoreline where water depth is less than 3 feet, and allows the governor to establish restricted wake zones during declared states of emergency or disaster.