They do require it,and you have to show that it works during your tech inspection,along with other safety items as well, but you have to explain what a backup boat and hillside of ming means!
What he means is that the guy who owned the boat that he now owns, had the same problem with his throttle sticking at Lake Ming in 1996. Only this guy was lucky enough to jump out of the boat before it hit the hill and caught it on fire.