Operation of Your Boat
It is unlawful for any person to:
- Operate at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and prudent or greater
than will permit him to bring such boat to a stop within the assured clear
distance ahead.
- Operate so as to cause a hazardous wake or wash.
- Operate in a circular course around fishermen or swimmers.
- Moor or attach to any buoy, beacon, light marker, stake, flag or other
aid to safe operation, or to move, remove, displace, tamper with, damage or
destroy the same.
- Anchor in the traveled portion of any river or channel so as to prevent,
impede, or interfere with safe passage of any other boat through the same
area.
- Operate within an area designated as bathing, fishing, swimming, or otherwise
restricted.
- Operate within designated "no wake" area except at headway speed
without creating a swell or wake.
- Engage in water skiing, surfboarding or other similar activity between
the hours of ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise; provided
that this shall not apply to vessels used in recognized water ski tournaments,
competitions, exhibitions or trials, provided that the water area is adequately
lighted.
- Operate while intoxicated (loss of mental or physical faculties, or blood
alcohol content of .08 or higher). First conviction punishable by a fine not
to exceed $2,000, confinement in jail not to exceed 180 days or both; second
conviction punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000, confinement not to exceed
one year or both; third conviction punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000,
imprisonment for not more than 10 years or less than 2 years. **Failure to
submit a specimen to determine blood alcohol content may result in suspension
of your driver's license.
- Operate any vessel or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane or similar
device, in a willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others
and at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any
person or property. (Violation of this provision shall be punishable, upon
conviction, by a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $2,000 or by confinement
in jail not to exceed 180 days or both.)
- Swim or dive within two hundred yards of any sight-seeing or excursion
boat except for maintenance purposes or unless within an enclosed area.
- Operate within 50 feet of a "Diver Down Flag" or operate a boat
within 150 feet of a "Diver Down Flag" except at Headway/Steerage
Speed.
- Fail to comply with the U.S. Coast Guard Inland Rules of the Road.