[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Stony Point 7-17-2001 by L.L. No. 5-2001; amended in its entirety 10-9-2001 by L.L. No. 6-2001. Amendments noted where applicable.]
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.
B. 
RESIDENTIAL VESSELIncludes every vessel which is used primarily as a residence.
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.
A. 
No boat, vessel, personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft may park, dock or launch, except in areas so designated. There shall be no launching of personal watercraft or specialty prop-crafts from any Town-owned shoreline except:
(1) 
Designated areas available at local marinas;
(2) 
Privately owned property upon the property owner's consent; and
(3) 
The Town of Stony Point Boat Launch upon obtaining a permit.
B. 
The Town of Stony Point Boat Launch.
(1) 
The Town of Stony Point shall, by resolution, enact rules and set fees for the Town Boat Launch at Clark Park, and such rules and fees may change on a yearly basis.
(2) 
Launching fees for the Town Boat Launch are nonrefundable.
(3) 
Town Boat Launch permits will be issued on a first-come-first-served basis. Since parking space is limited, the town reserves the right to limit the number of permits issued. People with permits may be required to park their vehicle and trailer elsewhere. The Boat Launch ramp may be closed for certain special events.
(4) 
Sail or motorboats exceeding 28 feet in length may not be launched at the Town Boat Launch.
(5) 
People may apply for a Town Boat Launch permit in person at the Town Clerk's office, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(6) 
Anyone applying for the Town of Stony Point Boat Launch resident rate must provide proof of residency and a copy of the boat registration showing that the boat is registered in the applicant's name.
(7) 
All use of the launching at the Town Boat Launch is strictly at the boat owner's risk, and the town assumes no liability in connection with such use.
(8) 
Compliance with Chapter 75 of the Code of Stony Point, Town Law § 130(17) and Navigation Law § 46 is mandatory.
A. 
Operation in certain waters. No boat, vessel, personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft boat shall be operated in excess of five miles per hour within 300 feet of the shoreline upon any waters or waterways in the Town of Stony Point, which includes the entire shoreline from the area of the Stony Point Battlefield to the Stony Point-Haverstraw border. Notwithstanding the speed limit of five miles per hour set forth in this subsection, crafts shall comply with "no wake" areas that will still be enforced, such as Bay Mar Basin.
B. 
Prudent speed. Every person operating a boat, vessel, personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft boat shall at all times operate it in a careful and prudent manner and at such a rate of speed as not to disturb the reasonable comfort or endanger the property of another or the life or limb of any person or so as not to interfere with the free and proper and peaceful use of the navigable waters within the Town of Stony Point.
C. 
No boat, vessel, personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft shall be operated in any controlled-speed area that creates a wake that disturbs the reasonable comfort, peace or endangers the property of another or the life and limb of any person.
D. 
Registration numbers on any boat, vessel, personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft personal watercraft shall be visible at all times and shall be in accordance with all applicable federal and state regulations.
E. 
To the extent not inconsistent herewith, any boat, vessel, personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft shall comply in all respects with all state and federal regulations.
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.