Transcript NYS Boating Laws - Morrisville State College

NEW YORK STATE
BOATING LAWS
- 12/02
2003-0622
Presentation by:
Binghamton's Susquenango
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Power Squadron
Current Edition
12/2002
Final exam
includes NY state
specific
questions
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1. Personal Flotation Device Requirement for Those
Towed by a Vessel - page 53 *
2. Personal Watercraft Operators Born on or After
1/1/72 Now Need to Complete an Approved Boating
Safety Course (see slide #19 for ’04 age changes) page 60. *
* Note: see the New York State Boater's Guide, 12/02 edition
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The United States Coast Guard's Life Jacket Rule will go into
effect December 23, 2002. In support of the ongoing efforts of
the states and Coast Guard to improve boating safety, the Coast
Guard is requiring that all children under 13 years of age wear
Coast Guard approved life jackets, while aboard recreational
vessels underway, except when the children are below decks or
in an enclosed cabin.
Comment - NYS sets this requirement to age 12; USCG is
stricter at age 13.
Note: For more boating safety information see
www.uscg.mil/news and www.uscgboating.org.
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Changes to Visual Distress Signals and Sound Signaling Devices
Effective 1 April 2003 (pages 23 & 28):
•Whistle
 mouth whistle for vessels less than 39 feet
 mechanical whistle for vessels 39 feet or more.
•Visual distress signals
 vessels 16 feet or more shall carry serviceable distress signals
 all vessels, regardless of length, when operating after sunset
 vessels 39 feet or more shall carry a bell
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AGE OF LEGAL BOAT OPERATION *
1. To operate a boat in NYS without adult supervision
individuals must be at least 18 years of age or have
successfully completed a safe boating course and be
between the ages of 10 and 18.
2. Individuals less than 18 years of age who have not
successfully completed a boating safety course may only
operate a vessel while under the direct supervision of an
individual who is 18 years of age or older.
3. The required boating safety certificate must be carried
by the minor at all times while operating the boat.
* Note: see slides 19 & 20 for PWC education req. for ’03 and ‘04
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BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (BUI) …
… is operating while under the influence of
any controlled substance or prescribed drug
when affected to the extent that the person's
normal faculties are impaired.
• It is illegal for any person with a blood or
breath alcohol of 0.08 or higher to operate
a vessel.
• Zero Tolerance: for those under 21 years of age;
operating privileges will be revoked if caught drinking
while operating a vessel -page 41 *.
* Note: see the New York State Boater's Guide, 12/01 edition
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Boating While Intoxicated
• New York law prescribes heavy fines, imprisonment, and the
suspension of operator privileges for violators.
• In New York, if you are stopped for the suspicion of
impaired operation and refuse to voluntarily submit to a
breath test, your privilege to operate may be immediately
suspended, pending a hearing.
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PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD)
1. All vessels must have one USCG approved wearable PFD
for each person on board.
2. Vessels over 16 feet in length must have one additional
throwable type IV.
3. Children under the age of 12 must wear a PFD while aboard
a vessel under 65 feet that is underway, unless the child is
situated within a fully enclosed cabin.
4. Type V, or hybrid inflatable PFDs, must be worn to be
acceptable. They do require a minimal amount of
maintenance. Not recommended for water skiing, etc.
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PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD)
1. All vessels must have one USCG approved wearable PFD
for each person on board.
2. Vessels over 16 feet in length must have one additional
throwable type IV.
Type I
Off Shore
Type II
Near Shore
Type III
Inland
3. Children under the age of 12 must wear a PFD while aboard
a vessel under 65 feet that is underway, unless the child is
situated within a fully enclosed cabin.
4. Type V, or hybrid inflatable PFDs, must be worn to be
acceptable. Type
They
do require a minimal
amount of
IV
Type V
Inflatable
Throwable
Special Use
maintenance.
Not recommended
for water skiing,
etc.
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DIVERS DOWN FLAG
• The official flag, Alpha, is the
internationally recognized indicator for all
dive operations.
• The other flag, "diver down", which is
prescribed by the state, is a red flag with a
white diagonal stripe.
• Vessels must maintain a distance of at least 100 feet of
any craft or object displaying either flag.
• Must be taken down when divers/snorkels are not in the
water.
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HULL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
1. All registered vessels must have
a HIN permanently affixed to the
transom in such a way that
removal, alteration, or replacement
will be obvious and evident.
2. Removal of a HIN is prohibited.
3. Vessels without a HIN can be assigned one by the
NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.
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REGISTRATION AND NUMBERING
Registration in New York
NYS
NYSDept.
Dept.of
ofMotor
MotorVehicles
Vehicles
Receive
Receivenumber
numberNY
NY 1234
1234 AB
AB
One Character
space
Registration number display:
• 3 inches or larger, contrasting color
• On hull, near bow on both sides
• Renewal sticker, good for 3 years, both sides, max. of 3 inches
aft of registration number
USPS
- dedicated to making boating safer and more fun
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13
REGISTRATION
• Registration certificates must be available for inspection
aboard the vessel.
• Vessels documented exclusively for pleasure and which
operate principally within NYS, must apply to Motor
Vehicles for a registration certificate and are required to
display validation stickers.
• Exempt from state registration: documented vessels
operating commercially; vessels legally registered in
another state (up to 90 consecutive days); lifeboats;
competition race boats; & non mechanically propelled
vessels.
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REPORTABLE BOATING ACCIDENTS
1. Include accidents that had injuries requiring more than
first aid.
2. Include accidents that cause more than $500 total damage.
3. Report immediately and file a written report within 48
hours if there is a death or missing person.
4. Must be reported to the nearest police agency and a
written report must be filed with NYS Parks (Albany) within
48 hours; 5 days for accidents with only property damage.
5. Failure to report an accident may result in a $100 fine.
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RESTRICTED AREAS
1. Established by state law and local ordinances.
2. Illegal to perform any activity posted as prohibited.
3. Idle speed - minimum speed required to maintain steerage.
4. Slow speed - no speed greater than that which is
reasonable and prudent.
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WATER SKIING
1. All persons engaged in water skiing
must wear a USCG approved Type I, II or
III PFD. An impact rated Type III is
preferred.
2. Vessels towing water skiers must have an observer
who is at least 10 years of age.
3. May occur between sunrise and sunset, provided visibility
is not reduced.
4. Effective 2002 - anyone towed by a vessel must wear a
proper PFD.
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AQUATIC NUISANCES
To help prevent the spread of the
latest plague of non-native fish and zebra
mussels in our waterways, boaters should
follow these simple rules:
• Trailer boaters should remove visible mud, plants, fish or
animals from boats and trailers prior to transport to
another body of water.
• Scrape any mussels from boat or outdrive, and flush hull,
bilges & water holding compartments with hot water
(at least 120º F).
• Do not release plants or fish, including bait, into a body of
water unless it came out of that same body of water.
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AQUATIC NUISANCES
(Cont'd)
• Pump fresh water through engines before leaving
the area.
• Drain live-wells, bait buckets, bilge and transom
wells.
• Remove water from trailer boats by removing the
drain-plug and parking on an incline to
facilitate draining.
• Empty water out of kayaks, canoes, rafts, etc.
• Let boat, PWCs, trailer and equipment dry for at
least 5 days.
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PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC)
• Personal Watercraft are boats and must adhere to all
boating laws.
• Mandatory education: if born on or after 1/1/72 (new as
of 1/1/03); after 1/1/04 required for all PWC operators.
Specific requirements for PWCs:
1.
Everyone on board or being towed behind a PWC must wear a US Coast
Guard approved Type I, II, or III PFD at all times. Inflatable PFDs are not to
be worn on PWCs. Impact rated Type III preferred.
2.
A PWC may be operated only between sunrise and sunset providing
visibility is not restricted.
3.
No one under the age of 16 years may rent / lease a PWC.
4.
An engine cutoff lanyard ignition safety switch, if so equipped, must be
functional and attached to the rider.
5.
Required equipment: horn or whistle, visual distress equipment and fire
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extinguisher.
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PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC)
(Cont'd)
A PWC must be operated in a reasonable and
prudent manner. It is illegal to:
1. Weave through congested waterway traffic.
2. Swerve at the last possible moment in order to
avoid a collision.
3. Jump the wake of another boat or drive
unnecessarily close to that boat.
The required boating education certificate must be
carried by all PWC operators while operating the PWC.
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HOMELAND SECURITY MEASURES
Keep your distance from all military vessels, cruise lines, or
commercial shipping:

All vessels must proceed at a no-wake speed when within a Protection Zone
(which extends 500 yards around U.S. naval vessels).

Non-military vessels are not allowed to enter within 100 yards of a U.S. naval
vessel, whether underway or moored, unless authorized by an official patrol.
The patrol may be either Coast Guard or Navy.

Violating the Naval Vessel Protection Zone is a felony offense, punishable by
up to six years imprisonment and / or up to $250,000 in fines.
Observe and avoid all security zones. Avoid commercial port
operation areas. Avoid restricted areas near:

Dams

Power plants

Naval ship yards

Dry docks
Know and Avoid All Security Zones
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END NEW YORK STATE
BOATING LAWS
2003-0622
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