[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Sharon
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 204.
[Adopted as Art. 16 of the Town Bylaws]
No person shall operate any motorboat on Lake Massapoag at a
speed in excess of 15 miles per hour, except that a maximum speed
of 25 miles per hour shall be permitted only during such times and
in such areas as shall be designated for water skiing by the Select
Board; provided that when within 150 feet of the shore or any pier
or float, the speed shall not exceed six miles per hour.
No person shall operate any motorboat within 150 feet of the
shore of any public or private bathing beach on Lake Massapoag except
in case of an emergency or when within the public launching area.
Except in case of an emergency, every person, other than the
owner or tenant of beach frontage on Lake Massapoag or a guest of
either one, shall launch or land his motorboat at the public boat
slip and from or on no other place. An owner or tenant of beach frontage
or a guest of either may launch and land his boat from and on such
beach.
After April 1, 1973, no person shall operate a boat on Lake
Massapoag powered by internal combustion engines whose total horsepower
rating at time of original manufacture exceeds 60 horsepower, except
as approved by the Select Board for safety or rescue purposes.
No person shall launch a boat powered by an internal combustion
engine or a sailboat at a public launching area on Lake Massapoag
unless there is permanently attached thereto a boat launching permit
sticker. Such sticker shall be available to residents and nonresidents
at reasonable rates to be established by the Select Board.
Whoever violates any of the provisions of this bylaw shall be
punished by a fine of $20 for each violation.
[Adopted as Art. 16A of the Town Bylaws]
No person shall operate a personal watercraft if such person
is:
A.
Under the age of 16;
B.
Sixteen or 17 years of age without first having received a safety
certificate evidencing satisfactory completion of a training course
in safe operation conducted by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary,
the United States Power Squadron, the Division of Law Enforcement,
or such other entity approved in writing by the Director.
Any person aboard a personal watercraft shall wear at all times
a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.
No person shall tow a water-skier or any person in any other
manner from a personal watercraft.
No person shall operate a personal watercraft between the hours
of sunset and sunrise or when vision is unduly restricted by weather
or in violation of the Rules for Town Beaches as established by the
Select Board.
No person shall operate a personal watercraft except in a safe
and prudent manner, having due regard for other waterborne traffic,
posted speed and wake restrictions, and all other attendant circumstances,
so as not to endanger the life, limb or property of any person.
No person shall operate a personal watercraft in a negligent
manner. The following are prohibited as examples of negligent operations:
A.
Unreasonably jumping, or attempting to jump, the wake of another
vessel;
B.
Following within 150 feet of a water-skier;
C.
Weaving through congested vessel traffic;
D.
Speeding in restricted areas;
E.
Crossing unreasonably close to another vessel;
F.
Operating a personal watercraft in such a manner that it endangers
the life, limb or property of any persons;
G.
Towing a water-skier or any person in any manner from a personal
watercraft.
No person shall operate a personal watercraft:
No person shall:
If any portion of this bylaw is invalid, unenforceable, changed
by law or regulation, or declared invalid by order, decree or judgment
of a court of competent jurisdiction for any reason, that decision
shall not affect any other action of this bylaw which shall remain
in full force and effect and the bylaw shall be construed as if such
invalid provisions had not been inserted or as if the new law or regulation
had been incorporated herein.
Enforcing persons for this article are the Chief of Police,
the Select Board, or their designees.
The penalty for violation of this bylaw shall be $20 for each
offense.
