SC S0026

Requires owners of watercraft over 70 horsepower, personal watercraft, or specialty propcraft titled in South Carolina or USCG-documented with SC hailing port to carry minimum $50,000 combined liability insurance for bodily injury or property damage per occurrence

Applicants for watercraft title, registration, or renewal must certify insurance coverage to the Department of Natural Resources

Failure to present proof of insurance after an accident creates a rebuttable presumption the watercraft is uninsured, making the owner guilty of a misdemeanor

First offense carries a $50-$250 fine; second offense $250-$500; third or subsequent offense $500-$1,000 fine, up to one year imprisonment, or both

All fines collected go to DNR for boater training and safety programs