A. No person shall operate, manipulate or give permission to any person to operate or manipulate any parasails, water skis, surfboard, personal watercraft, or similar device, or any vessel in a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life or property of any person.

B. No person shall lease or otherwise give permission to another person to operate any vessel on any waters of this state, except privately owned waters, while the operator is under the influence of alcohol or any substance included in the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act or any combination of alcohol and such substance.

C. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vessel making use of an audible or a visual signal or a combination thereof, the operator of every other vessel shall immediately stop his or her vessel whenever or wherever practical or otherwise yield the right-of-way until such authorized emergency vessel has passed, except when otherwise directed by a duly authorized peace officer of this state.

D. No person shall overload or give permission to overload a vessel with passengers or gear so as to exceed the posted capacity plate, United States Coast Guard standards, or the vessel manufacturer’s recommended capacity.

E. No person shall operate or give permission to operate any vessel on the waters of this state for which the manufacturer has affixed a maximum horsepower capacity plate so as to exceed the posted capacity plate or to exceed the United States Coast Guard standards for maximum horsepower capacity; provided, this provision shall not apply to vessels operating in sanctioned events.

F. No person shall operate, drive or be in actual physical control of any vessel on any waters of this state, except privately owned waters, at speeds in excess of the speed limits established for those waters.

G. No person shall operate on the waters of this state, except privately owned waters, any vessel, including personal watercraft, within fifty (50) feet in proximity to another vessel when running at speeds of over ten (10) miles per hour; provided, this prohibition shall not apply to vessels operating in sanctioned events.

H. Any violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) nor more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) and shall be subject to imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months.

Added by Laws 1989, c. 346, § 62, emerg. eff. June 3, 1989. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 284, § 43, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Laws 1996, c. 337, § 2, eff. July 1, 1996; Laws 2000, c. 237, § 1, emerg. eff. May 24, 2000; Laws 2003, c. 393, § 6, emerg. eff. June 4, 2003; Laws 2008, c. 95, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2008; Laws 2011, c. 201, § 1, eff. July 1, 2011.