Michigan Life Jacket Laws in Brief
Under Michigan law, personal flotation devices (PFDs), also known as life jackets, are required for all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, pontoons, and motorized boats. DNR regulations require that the PFDs be U.S. Coast Guard-approved. The regulations require: 1) at least one PFD is required per passenger for all vessels, and 2) at least one Type I, II, III, or IV per passenger for vessels 16 feet or longer.
The laws also state that individuals between the ages of 6 and 16 are required to wear a PFD while fishing off of a wind-powered or motorized vessel and anyone who is a passenger on a vessel under 16 feet in length. Additionally, no one can be towed behind a vessel without wearing a PFD and an observer must be present and report violations.
Exemptions to Michigan’s life-jacket rules include: 1) U . S. Coast Guard-approved PFDs that are worn by all passengers, 2) U.S. Coast Guard-approved boat cushions properly stowed on vessels less than 16 feet long, 3) U.S. Coast Guard-approved throw cushions that are easily accessible for all passengers. It is essential to remember that passengers that are under the age of 6 are required by law to wear a PFD at all times where appropriate, regardless of whether there is an exemption for other passengers.
It is highly recommended that everyone on a vessel wears properly fitted life jackets, however. Because a life jacket must be fitted for the wearer, it is important to wear the correct PFD for each individual. Attaching a PFD’s chest strap to another strap (motor, seat, or other storage compartment) may cause the life jacket to not operate as intended in the case of emergency.
Michigan Approved Type Life Jackets
Under Michigan’s boating laws, life jackets, or PFDs, "shall be of sufficient size for the intended user." So, the size you select to use must be appropriate for your weight and make sure that the PFD is the right size for your passengers. In general, Michigan law requires "a wearable, Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device" for each person on board or being towed behind the vessel. A children’s life jacket is required for each child who is 6 and under. There are five (5) different types of U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets. Michigan boaters must understand what these are to comply with the law.
Type I – Offshore life jackets are designed to provide the most buoyancy in open sea conditions. This makes them ideal for use on the Great Lakes because they are designed to offer more protection against rough waters. Offshore jackets can also be used in further from shore, out in the ocean, and you can think about them as being a better option for longer, deeper, wide waters. The jacket keeps its buoyant characteristics after taking in water and the bright orange color makes it easy for searchers to find you.
Type II – Near shore buoyant vests are recommended for calm waters where there is a good chance that rescue will be coming soon. These are commonly called near-shore jackets and are best used on smaller lakes and rivers. Unfortunately, they do not afford much buoyancy in rough waters or in conditions where you may become in unconscious the. If a person is wearing this type life jacket and becomes incapacitated, the likelihood of survival is low.
Type III – Flotation devices are also designed for calm conditions, such as on the lake or river here boating is safe and where you will be close to shore. However, these types of jackets are not certain to keep an unconscious person’s face above water, and are not recommended for use on the Great Lakes or for waters where waves are greater than 3 feet.
Type IV – A Type IV personal flotation device is designed for quick rescue situations but is not designed to be worn. A Type IV must be immediately accessible. Michigan requirements are that a Type IV be carried on vessels 16 feet in length and longer. A throwable Type IV PFD can be any one of the following: buoyant heaving line, a cushion, ring buoys, and ring buoys with attached 60-foot long lanyard. Remember that this type is not an alternative to a life jacket since this type will not help if a person is unconscious.
Type V – These are special use devices that are only approved for specific activities or conditions. You’ll know if you have this type of PFD on board because it will have the appropriate conditions and limitations included on the label and on the hangtag. In open waters, such as the Great Lakes, if you are going to wear a Type V that is approved for your type of boating, you will need to wear it all the time. These devices include:
Inflatable PFD
Special Use PFD
Other types of PFDs that are approved for some specific activity
Michigan’s laws require that all passengers on a boat wear a life jacket when they are under the age of 6. If a person is operating a ski craft, then that person must wear a life jacket as well. Failure to follow and obey Michigan boating laws can result in warnings, fines, an arrest, or an audit.
Life Jacket Age and Size Requirements
Under the Michigan statutes rules governing the use of personal flotation devices, or PFDs, on boats are directly tied to the age of the individual using the device. All vessels, regardless of their length, must be equipped with one PFD for each person on board.
Specifically, the law requires that motorboats 16 feet or longer carry a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III or IV PFD, while those shorter than 16 feet need only carry PFDs that are at least useful (US) Type III or better. These PFDs must be in good and serviceable condition and must be immediately available to all people on your boat.
Boating safety education regulations stipulate that individuals under age 14 are required to wear a US Coast Guard-approved Type I, II or III PFD while underway. Specific exceptions may apply based on the nature of the boating activity. Children younger than one must use a Type I or II PFD while underway. PFDs should fit properly to optimize their effectiveness.
Sizing guidelines exist to help adults select the proper PFD size while families shop for PFDs for children.
The people who will wear it should try several sizes on to determine which one is right. Test the fit after the wearer pulls it over his or her head. Make sure that, when it is on, the device fits snugly but does not restrict movement. If it seems loose, tighten the straps. Here are some general size and fit guidelines:
A word of caution: Life jackets are designed to keep you afloat – not to support your head. Thus, if you find that the flotation collar is constantly in your face and you have to tilt your head back to keep it out of the water, that PFD is too small.
Wearing a PFD while boating – and especially when waterskiing, tubing or engaged in similar activities – reduces your risk of drowning. However, you must remember that PFDs are designed to turn an unconscious person face-up! They are not flotation devices for you to grab in an emergency. They are also not a substitute for supervision.
Life Jacket Boating Safety Tips and Legal Requirements
In addition to the legal obligations presented above, there is other safety-related equipment that should be on your boat at all times. For example, whether you are mandated to have them or not, flares of some type are required on vessels of some size. While it is not specifically a legal requirement for Michigan vessels, when one departs from the U.S., internationally accepted regulations require flares in various quantities, depending on the size of the vessel (with a minimum of three rockets with hand-held launching apparatus). The important thing about flares is that they have expiration dates, just like food, bleach and milk. We encounter many clients who assume that since their flares are new, not used and not expired, they believe they are fine. We like to tell them that manufacturers do not spend millions on marketing to sell products with an alleged expiration date. They do it because it is necessary. Use your flares on a regular basis to ensure they work properly, and check the dates regularly. If your flares ever become activated, replace all of them immediately. Just like flares , fire extinguishers expire. While the government has very specific regulations as to the size of the fire extinguishers required on vessels of certain sizes, we find that compliance is extremely low for this piece of equipment. Most people use one or two of them for grilling and cleaning the grill, and then they bring the fire extinguishers on board for boating and leave them there. Fire extinguishers can be recharged, but they must be properly refilled by someone with the proper equipment. Do not assume that just because you have a fire extinguisher on board, it is in good working order. Again, manufacturers do not spend millions on marketing and advertising for products that are intended not to be used; flares and fire extinguishers are both safety items designed for emergencies. Like most things in life, if you take care of them, they will take care of you. Ensure that flares and fire extinguishers are the right size and have the proper certifications. Use them properly and regularly. If they are used up, replace them. If they have expired or lost their efficacy, replace them. Safety is important on the water and we all need to do our part to keep it properly.
Penalties for Violating Life Jacket Laws
In terms of penalties, Michigan life jacket laws are very clearly enforced. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will impose a $100 fine for every life jacket a boater is required to have but does not on their vessel. So, if you’re required to have six approved life jackets onboard but only have four, you’ll face a $200 fine.
Officers with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have been known to issue on-the-spot citations if needed safety equipment is missing on the boat, including life jackets or sound-producing devices such as whistles and horns. Since Michigan does not have a "warning first" rule as does Illinois, people may be issued a citation for violations immediately, even on their first offense. This is even the case if they were not provided clear and specific warnings about their violations of the law during prior encounters with the DNR officer.
Boaters who qualify for an exemption may make their case to the Department of Natural Resources when face with a citation, but don’t count on the officer reversing their decision in the field. At the very least, you’ll have to take the matter to court if you want to fight the citation.
The Michigan DNR also has discretion as to whether or not it will immediately impound the vessel of an owner who has violated Michigan life jacket laws. Michigan law says that the vessel of any person, firm, or corporation committing a second or subsequent violation can be removed from the waters of the state and impounded, at the owner’s expense, until they have paid the fine for the second or subsequent violation and have completed any probation period. Again, this is particularly likely to be imposed on boaters who encounter law enforcement officers on multiple occasions and still violate the law.
Life Jacket Laws FAQs
What is the minimum number of life jackets I need for passengers on board?
You need an approved wearable life jacket for each passenger on your vessel, as well as one throwable flotation device for all passengers to use in case of an emergency. Wearable life jackets should be type-approved by the U.S. Coast Guard or Transport Canada, and each one needs to be in good working order and have a proper size and fit for each passenger. Throwable devices must also be approved and in good condition, and cannot be a seat cushion with straps or a belt belt. Remember to always choose a size appropriate life jacket, as they come in different sizes for very young children, infants and adults .
What types of life jackets are approved by Michigan boating regulations?
The following types of Personal Flotation Devices (PDFs) are approved:
• 1-Under 12-month infant life jackets
• 2-Child life jackets
• 3-Youth life jackets
• 4-Adult life jackets
• 5-Adult automatic inflatable life jackets
• 6-Adult manual inflatable life jackets
• 7-Anchored buoy-type live vests
• 8-Adult buoy-type life jackets
• 9-Adult ring-type life jackets
That said, Michigan boating regulations require that:
Each vessel has at least one life jacket for each person aboard. Michigan law requires that any life jacket be able to be quickly donned by a child who is able to put on some clothing without assistance. But the parent or guardian should always be responsible for a child’s safety vest at all times.
Where should my flotation device be located?
Flotation devices must be readily accessible at all times, and must be of a color or pattern that is easily visible or recognizable from other vessels so that it can be easily rescued and retrieved.
