This chapter shall be cited as the "Boating, Vessels, Personal Watercraft
and Specialty Prop-Craft Regulations of the Town of Stony Point."
This chapter is enacted for the purpose of regulating the speed and
regulating and restricting the operation of vessels, personal watercraft and
specialty prop-craft while being operated or driven upon any waters within
or bounding the Town of Stony Point to a distance of 300 feet from the shore
in order that the peace, health, safety, welfare and good order of the operators
of such vessels, the town and its inhabitants shall be preserved.
For the purpose of this chapter, the words used herein are defined as
follows:
DOCK
A wharf, or portion of a wharf, extending along the shoreline and
generally connected with the uplands throughout its length.
LICENSE
A certificate furnished by the inspector.
OPERATOR
An individual who operates or navigates a pleasure vessel.
OWNER
The person actually holding title to a vessel, except a public vessel
chartered unmanned for a period of more than 30 consecutive days, in which
case "owner" shall include the person chartering the vessel.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, corporation or association.
PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE
A wearable flotation device which is in such a condition that it
is fit for its intended purpose, bears a legibly marked approval number and
is of an appropriate size for the person who intends to use it.
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
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 or being towed behind the vessel
rather than in the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel.
SPECIALTY PROP-CRAFT
A vessel which is powered by an outboard motor or a propeller-driven
motor and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing or
kneeling on or being towed behind the vessel rather than in the conventional
manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel.
VESSEL
Any floating craft; and all vessels shall belong to one of the following
classes:
A.
PUBLIC VESSELIncludes every vessel which is propelled in whole or in part by mechanical power and is used or operated for commercial purposes on the navigable waters of the state; that is either carrying passengers, carrying freight, towing or for any other use; for which a compensation is received, either directly or where provided as an accommodation, advantage, facility or privilege at any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement.
C.
PLEASURE VESSELIncludes every vessel not within the classification of "public vessel" or "residential vessel." However, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to rowboats and canoes except as otherwise expressly provided.
No boat, vessel, personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft propelled
by gasoline, steam, sail or another motor power within 300 feet of the shoreline
upon any waters or waterways in the Town of Stony Point shall be operated
in a reckless manner. "Reckless operation" shall include but not be limited
to operating such craft in a manner which unnecessarily interferes with the
free and proper use of said waters or waterways in the town, unnecessarily
endangers other craft thereon or the life or limb of any person or interferes
with the peace, health, safety or welfare of the residences along the shoreline.
Any person who, himself or through an agent or employee, shall violate
any section of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine
of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment not to exceed
15 days, or both. A holder of a Town of Stony Point Boat Launch permit shall
be subject to an automatic revocation of their permit upon a conviction for
a violation of any section of this chapter.