California Boating Law

CALIFORNIA BOATING LAW

course taker as to the basic rules of California waterways, the proper and safe manner to operate recreational vessels, and actions that can be taken to avoid boating-related environmental pollution. (b) The department shall develop a personal watercraft education course that provides the course taker with information that effectively educates the course taker as to the basic rules of California waterways, the proper and safe manner to operate personal watercraft, and actions that can be taken to avoid personal watercraft-related environmental pollution. The course shall be voluntary and shall be made available to groups, individuals, and clubs. The course shall be made available on the department’s website and may be made available in other formats, as determined by the department. The department shall consult with the California State Sheriff’s Association in developing the course and making it available on the Internet. 669. Adoption of departmental regulations. The regulations adopted by the department pursuant to this chapter shall be adopted with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. 673. Boat livery record keeping. The owner of a boat livery shall cause to be kept a record of the name and address of the person or persons hiring any boat or vessel subject to this code, the registered identification number of such vessel, the departure date and time, and the expected time of return. The record shall be preserved for at least six months. 674. Livery boat equipment requirements. Neither the owner of a boat livery nor his agent or employees shall permit any vessel to be delivered to a renter unless it shall have been provided, either by the owner or renter, with the equipment required pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations. Article 1.5. Anthony Farr and Stacy Beckett Boating Safety Act of 2004 680. Anthony Farr and Stacy Beckett Boating Safety Act of 2004. This act shall be known as the Anthony Farr and Stacy Beckett Boating Safety Act of 2004, and may be cited as Anthony and Stacy’s Law. 681. Teak surfing, prohibitions. (a) It is unlawful to operate a motorized vessel or have the engine of a motorized vessel run idle while an individual is teak surfing, platform dragging, or bodysurfing behind the motorized vessel. (b) It is unlawful to operate a motorized vessel or have the engine of a motorized vessel run idle while an individual is occupying or holding onto the swim platform, swim deck, swim step, or swim ladder of the vessel. (c) Subdivision (b) does not apply when an individual is occupying the swim platform, swim deck, swim step, or swim ladder for a very brief period of time while assisting with the docking or departure of the vessel, while exiting or entering the vessel, or while the vessel is engaged in law enforcement or emergency rescue activity. (d) ‘‘Teak surfing’’ or ‘‘platform dragging’’ means holding onto the swim platform, swim deck, swim step, swim ladder, or any portion of the exterior of the transom of a motorized vessel for any amount of time while the motorized vessel is underway at any speed. (e) ‘‘Bodysurfing’’ means swimming or floating on one’s stomach or on one’s back on or in the wake directly behind a motorized vessel that is underway. (f) ‘‘Vessel’’ has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (e) of Section 775.5. (g) A violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a fine of up to one hundred dollars ($100). Nothing in this subdivision shall be considered in relation to a suspension, restriction, or delay of driving privileges, or in the determination of a violation point count as provided in Section 12810 of the Vehicle Code.

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