NYS Boating Laws

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NYS BOATING LAWS
NEW YORK STATEBOATING LAWS - 4/05
Presentation byBinghamton's SusquenangoPower
Squadron
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Current Edition 12/2004 Final exam includes NY
state specific questions
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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.
Page 39
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BOATING WHILE INTOXICATED
No one may operate a vessel on the waters of New
York State while impaired or intoxicated by
alcohol or drugs

• 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

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SERIOUS PENALTIES

• 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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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 Dept. of Motor Vehicles Receive number NY
1234 AB
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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
If you or your vessel are involved in an accident
a report must be filed with NYS Parks within 5
days if
1. Someone is killed or missing
2. Personal injury beyond first aid is sustained
3. Total property damage exceeds 1000
Local law enforcement must be notified immediately
Failure to report an accident may result in a
100 fine
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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
  allboating laws.
• After 1/1/04 all PWC operators are required to
  have completed an approved safe boating course

• Specific requirements for PWCs
• 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.
• A PWC may be operated only between sunrise and
  sunset providing visibility is not restricted.
• No one under the age of 16 years may rent / lease
  a PWC.
• An engine cutoff lanyard ignition safety switch,
  if so equipped, must be functional and attached
  to the rider.
• Required equipment horn or whistle, visual
  distress equipment and fire 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
• Weave through congested waterway traffic.
• Swerve at the last possible moment in order to
  avoid a collision.
• 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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NYS BOATING LAWS
END NEW YORK STATEBOATING LAWS