A killswitch can be very simple; there are some for industrial equipment that cost less than $20 and you wire them in series with the ignition or engine control. No programming needed.
Here is one that you can buy to retrofit older engines and is standard on most recent newer ones: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kill-Switch-with-Lanyard-BR51303/203494924
I checked with the actual law and it appears not give the owner an opportunity to install a cutoff switch buit looks like they are requiring it to be installed by the manufacturer.
Sec. 31.1071:
(2) attaches:
(b) A motorboat operator may not operate a motorboat less than 26 feet in length and equipped by the manufacturer with an engine cutoff switch while the motorboat is under way and moving at greater than headway speed without first verifying that the switch is operational and fully functional and properly attaching the lanyard or wireless attachment, as appropriate for the specific motorboat, to the operator’s body or to the clothing or personal flotation device being worn by the operator.
I looked under the Texas Wildlife and Safety requirements and the latest version did not specify the required use of the kill switch. So they haven’t got that far with their advertising I guess.
The way the law is written, it appears the switch must be installed by the manufacturer and I can understand that because it establishes a minimum standard to the law and stops the inconsistencies of home built systems.
Plus a check look at the system being used will free up the boaters to create more trust by the game wardens as you know if it is not a factory installed switch, there are people out there going to try to get off as cheap as they can and jerry rig one that is going to force the wardens to get into their system harder and find things wrong with it. Then it will force the wardens to start pulling everyone in sight that is required to have one. Might as well block the harbor and line them up.
Ain’t worth the trouble. But the $20 unit is going to be scrutinized. And each one becomes an up for grabs possibility as it may work this time, but will it work next time? And as the wardens will have to make a call after getting into the dash and observing the wiring, switch, and lanyard with everyone, you just got the morning blown for you. This is going to be a pain in the a$$.
rwood