No person shall drive or be in actual physical control of a vessel or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane, or any other marine transportation device while: Show
Refusal to submit to a field breath test or other approved testing shall result in the same punishment as provided for operators of motor vehicles on the state highways (automatic suspension of vessel license). Water Traffic "Rules of the Road" in the State of Alabama
Whenever the director of the Marine Patrol Division shall determine that in the interest of public safety it is necessary to restrict the speed of boats or boating activities on, or prohibit the entrance into, certain areas of the waters of this State or otherwise regulate or prohibit the use of boats or water skis (including all devices similar to water skis) in such areas, he shall designate such areas by appropriate signs or buoys. It is unlawful to operate a vessel in a reckless manner upon the waters of this state. A person is guilty of reckless operation when he operates any vessel or manipulates any waterskis or any other marine transportation device upon the waters of this state in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property at a speed or in a manner to endanger or likely to endanger life, limb, or property or injury of any person. It shall be unlawful to operate a vessel in a careless manner upon the waters of this state. Careless operation is the endangerment of life, limb, or property through negligence, carelessness, or inattention of the operator. Examples of careless operation include but is not limited to the following:
Personal watercraft means a vessel which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump as its primary source of motive power and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel. A personal watercraft shall at all times be operated on the waters of this state in a reasonable and prudent manner. Maneuvers which endanger life, limb, or property, or create a public nuisance shall all constitute the reckless operation of a vessel, including but not limited to the following: weaving through congested vessel traffic at high speed; following closely behind within the wake of a vessel towing a person or persons on water skis, surfboard, or other water sport device; jumping the wake of another vessel traveling in the same direction in close proximity to the vessel; cutting between a boat and the person or persons being towed by that boat; crossing at right angles in close proximity to the stern of another vessel or when visibility around the other vessel is obstructed; or steering a vessel toward any object or person in the water and turning sharply at close range so as to spray the object or person. Regulations:The Boating Safety Act of 1959, the Roberson/Archer Act of 1994, and the Boating Safety Enhancement Act of 2001 are designed to promote the full use and enjoyment of Alabama's waterways, provide for the registration of watercraft, and insure the safety of persons and property in connection with the use of the waters of the State. Vehicular Homicide:Whoever shall unlawfully and unintentionally cause the death of another person while engaged in the violation of any state or municipal ordinance applying to the operation or use of a vehicle or vessel or to the regulation of traffic or boating shall be guilty of homicide when the violation is the approximate cause of death. Accidents:Any operator of a boat involved in an accident causing loss of life, injury, or damage in excess of $50.00, must, within 10 days, submit an accident report to the Marine Patrol Division, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on forms provided by Marine Patrol Officers, Marine Patrol Division or County Sheriff's Offices. Navigation Lights:Boat operators must make sure that their boats are equipped with the proper navigation lights and use the lights during these conditions:
No other lights that may be mistaken for required navigation lights may be exhibited. Note: blue flashing lights are restricted to use by law enforcement boats only. The required navigation lights differ depending on the type and size of your boat. The common lighting configurations for recreational boats are shown below. U. S. Coast Guard's "Navigation Rules" has other configurations and requirements for larger boats. Power-Driven Boats Less Than 12 Meters Long When Underway:If less than 12 meters (39.4 ft.) long, these boats must exhibit the lights as shown in figure 1. Remember, power-driven boats include sailboats operating under power. The required lights are:
Unpowered Boats When UnderwayUnpowered boats are sailboats or those that are paddled, poled and rowed:
All Boats When Not Underway:All boats are required to display a white light visible from all directions whenever they are moored or anchored away from dock between sunset and sunrise. |