Jet ski use authorised on Lake Geneva

20 Minutes.

According to 20 Minutes, jet ski operator Pascal Guarnieri, based in Amphion, France, is over the moon after an administrative tribunal in Grenoble overturned two rulings, clearing the way for jet skis to be used on the French portion of Lake Geneva.

After a legal battle lasting ten years, Pascal Guarnieri has achieved his aim.

Jet skis were originally banned in 1989. Then in September 2014 a French tribunal overturned the ban, leading Haute-Savoie to introduce two new bylaws banning them again in December of the same year.

The department of Haute-Savoie has until 30 July 2017 to defend its position in the Tribunal in Lyon.

Pascal Guarnieri is not planning to wait and plans to start a jet ski operation on the lake by mid-July at the latest. He said he has four machines available and already lots of demand on both sides of the border.

Geneva police point out that while it might be authorised in France, the practice is banned in Swiss waters. Police spokesperson Chloé Dethurens said that rule breakers risk at a minimum being fined. And it is the responsibility of the renter to explain Swiss law, show clients where the border is, and tell them not to cross it.

More on this:
20 Minutes article (in French) - Take a 5 minute French test now

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