California Boating Law

6550.5

TITLE 14

DEPARTMENT OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS

(z) The name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the report. NOTE: Authority cited: Section 656, Harbors and Navigation Code. Reference: Section 656, Harbors and Navigation Code.

Article 4. Equipment Requirements

6550.5. Scope of Articles 4 and 5. (a) The regulations in this article and in Article 5 apply to vessels operating on the waters of this State that are defined in Government Code Section 170. All vessels complying with the construction and equipment requirements of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, are considered to be in compliance with these Rules. (b) Where federal law, including the United States Coast Guard regula- tions, provides an exemption to any of the provisions of the federal equipment or operation requirements which conform to the state require- ments set forth in Articles 4 and 5 of this chapter, such exemption shall also apply to the state requirements. (c) Any peace officer or harbor policeman authorized to enforce the provisions of Chapter 5 of the Harbors and Navigation Code may inspect a vessel using California waterways for compliance with safety laws, rules, and/or regulations where he has probable cause or a reasonable suspicion to believe that a violation of such laws, rules, or regulations exists. (d) Any peace officer authorized to enforce the provisions of Chapter 5 of the Harbors and Navigation Code may order the operator of an unsafe vessel to remove such vessel to the shore or to a safe moorage or anchorage in accordance with the requirements of this subsection. An officer may order an unsafe vessel so removed where it is being operated with one or more of the following hazardous conditions, where such conditions cannot be corrected on the spot, and where, in the judgment of the officer, continued operation of the vessel would create an immediate danger to life, limb, or property. (1) Boat being used without sufficient personal flotation devices, as prescribed by Section 6565 of this chapter; (2) Boat being used without sufficient firefighting devices, as prescribed by Section 6569 of this chapter; (3) Boat does not display required navigation lights between sunset and sunrise, as prescribed by Section 6600.1 of this Chapter; (4) Boat has fuel leakage from either the fuel system or engine, or both; (5) Boat has accumulation of fuel in bilges or compartment other than a fuel tank; (6) Boat does not have legal and serviceable ventilation system, as prescribed by Section 6575 of this chapter;

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