The following rules and regulations shall apply to all waters or waterways within or adjacent to the city or subject to its jurisdiction, unless in conflict with the laws of the State of New York, the County of Nassau or the United States of America.
All provisions of the Navigation Law of this state, of the inland rules enacted by the Congress and governing the navigation of the inland waters of the United States and of the Pilot Rules for United States inland waters, relative to the rules for vessels passing each other, as to lights on vessels and other matters consistent with proper use of the navigable waters, shall be complied with by all vessels navigating said waters.
Every person operating a boat shall at all times operate the same 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 safety of any person or so as to interfere with the free and proper use of the waters. Throwing up a dangerous wake when approaching or passing another boat is prohibited by this article.
[Amended 4-23-1985]
A. 
Grossly negligent operation shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) 
Operation at a speed greater than five miles per hour in mooring areas and other areas designated by appropriate markers.
(2) 
Operating in a swimming area and/or operating within 50 feet of any swimming area, regardless of whether the swimming area is designated by roped boundaries.
[Amended 8-24-2021]
(3) 
Operating while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
(4) 
The use of excessive speed in the vicinity of other boats and/or creating a dangerous wake in close proximity to any other vessel, including without limitation anchored vessels, sailboats, paddleboards, kayaks, and/or canoes or within shorelines, piers, docks, or dangerous waters.
[Amended 8-24-2021]
(5) 
Engaging in hazardous waterskiing practices.
(6) 
Operating a vessel with over the maximum number of passengers as denoted by the manufacturer or United States Coast Guard, or operating a vessel while passengers ride on the bow, seatback, gunwale, stern, swim platform, or transom of the vessel.
[Amended 8-24-2021]
(7) 
Failure to maintain adequate safety equipment, including without limitation flotation devices and/or firefighting devices subject to United States Coast Guard safety protocols.
[Amended 8-24-2021]
(8) 
Failure to display or having improper navigation lighting after sunset and before sunrise, subject to United States Coast Guard requirements.
[Amended 8-24-2021]
(9) 
Operating with a fuel leakage and/or fuel in the bilges.
(10) 
Operating with improper ventilation.
(11) 
Failure to display proper registration identification on the hull of the vessel and/or failure to maintain proper registration documents.
[Added 8-24-2021]
B. 
Any act of grossly negligent operation shall be a violation subject to a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both.
[Amended 8-24-2021]
No person shall operate a boat propelled wholly or partly by an internal combustion engine without having the exhaust from the engine run through a muffler so constructed and used as to muffle the noise of exhaust in a reasonable manner.
Any vessel which becomes a menace to navigation or unseaworthy or sinks, grounds or becomes otherwise disabled shall be removed by the owner or person in charge thereof on order of the Harbormaster. If such boat is not removed after orders to so remove it, it may be removed by or at the direction of the Harbormaster at the expense of the owner or person in charge of such vessel.