[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting
of the Town of Groton 2-14-1955 by Art. 24. Amendments noted where applicable.]
No motorboat shall be operated upon any pond
or part thereof lying within the Town in a manner which endangers
the safety of the public or is detrimental or injurious to the neighborhood
or to the value of property therein.
It shall be evidence of the violation of this
chapter if such motorboat is operated by a motor not having underwater
exhaust or in a noisy or obnoxious manner or at an unreasonable hour
or without slowing down and exercising due caution while approaching
and passing persons bathing or other watercraft.
No motorboat shall be operated upon any pond
lying within the Town 1/2 hour after sunset and before 1/2 hour before
sunrise unless it is equipped with red and green running lights that
show clearly in the direction in which it is going, and no other watercraft
shall be on the waters in the aforementioned hours unless equipped
with a suitable light to signal other approaching boats.
Any person violating any provision of this chapter
or part thereof shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $20 for each
offense.
[Added 2-14-1960 ATM, Art. 28]
A.
Persons operating motor- or other power boats on the
waters or waterways lying within the Town shall not bring said boats
or any other towed object within 50 feet of any dock, piers, raft,
wharf or float unless to embark and disembark. Power boats shall not
pass any other craft closer than 25 feet nor circle around any craft
in a manner as to annoy the occupants of the other craft nor pass
between moored rafts or floats and the shore.
B.
No person shall operate any watercraft in a manner
which shall unreasonably or unnecessarily interfere with other watercraft
or with the free and proper navigation on the waters or waterways
lying within the Town. Anchoring under bridges or in heavily traveled
channels shall constitute such interference if unreasonable under
the prevailing circumstances.
[Added 2-14-1960 ATM, Art. 28]
No watercraft on the waters or waterways lying
within the Town shall be loaded with passengers or cargo beyond its
safe carrying capacity.
[Added 2-14-1960 ATM, Art. 28]
No person shall throw, drop or place in the
water or on the shores of the waters or waterways lying within the
Town any wastepaper, rubbish or refuse.
[Added 2-14-1960 ATM, Art. 28]
All hydroplanes and any other motorboat that
is primarily designed for racing shall be equipped with a "dead man
control," so called, and the motor shall not exceed a rating of 12
horsepower.
[Added 2-14-1960 ATM, Art. 28]
A.
Speeds of over 10 miles per hour, waterskiing and
skipboard riding are prohibited on all waters or waterways lying within
the Town from one hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise
and between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on all Sundays, May
30, July 4 and Labor Day.
B.
No tow line shall exceed 75 feet from the point of
contact on the tow boat to the object being towed. No more than two
tow ropes of equal length may be used at one time.
C.
No person under the age of 12 years shall operate
a power boat in excess of 12 horsepower unless he is accompanied by
another person who is 16 years of age or over. When towing skipboards,
water skiers or the like, one other competent person besides the operator
shall occupy said boat and act as an observer.
D.
No motor- or other power boat, skier or towed object
may embark or disembark from bathing beaches used by the public.
[Added 2-14-1960 ATM, Art. 28]
No person operating any boat or craft shall
refuse to obey any lawful request of a police officer in uniform or
who displays his badge.
[Added 2-14-1960 ATM, Art. 28; 10-1-2018 ATM by Art. 14]
The Select Board may, on application, issue
permits for parades, races or special events on stated occasions.
[Added 2-14-1960 ATM, Art. 28]
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
to any law enforcement officer while in the performance of his official
duty nor to any person acting in an emergency.
