Any person in violation of a provision of this article shall be subject to the fine identified in the violation schedule contained within § 86-6 of this chapter.
The Harbormaster shall be notified in writing of certain special events, such as swimming races, regattas, marine parades, or other marine and maritime activities that may from time to time be held on or in the coastal waters and harbor areas under the jurisdiction of the Town. No person shall operate a motorboat in a motorboat race in the waters within the Town unless the motorboat race has received a special event license in accordance with Chapter 221 of the Town Code.
A.
No motorboat having a rated horsepower exceeding five shall be operated
or used on that certain body of water located in said Town known either
as Chapman's Pond or Burden's Pond.
B.
No vessel of any description shall be anchored, moored or beached
in that area of Little Narragansett Bay adjacent to the public anchorage
known as the "Kitchen" and referred to as the "Lagoon" of Napatree
Point. Only vessels powered by oar or paddle shall be permitted to
navigate in said waters and shall be permitted to embark and disembark
passengers for a period not exceeding five minutes.
C.
Speeds within Weekapaug Breachway. Operators of powered craft shall
not operate their vessels, ships, boats, jet skis, personal watercraft
or the like at a speed greater than five miles per hour or at no wake,
whichever is slower, from the entrance to the Weekapaug Breachway
at its intersection with the Weekapaug Bridge and continuing down
the breachway past its intersection with Winnapaug Pond until a line
from the southwestern most point of Lot #5 of Assessor's Plat
#142 in a line bisecting Winnapaug Pond due south until it meets Lot
#15 of Assessor's Plat #156.
D.
Operation of personal watercraft on Quonochontaug Pond is prohibited.
E.
No person shall swim in the breachway of the Winnapaug Pond, said
area defined as being the southernmost extension of said such breachway
into the sea and thence running north to its intersection with the
Weekapaug Bridge; thereafter, running further north inland from said
bridge to a point identified by the conclusion of the breachway wall
to the west and the beginning of private homes to the east or in the
breachway of Quonochontaug Pond, or in any other breachway within
the jurisdiction of the Town.
The following navigation fairways are established and activity
within the fairways conducted in accordance with the parameters to
be forwarded to the Coastal Resources Management Council for the U.S.
Coast Guard establishment:
A.
No person shall operate a vessel for towing a person or persons on
water skis, or a surfboard, or similar device in any designated channels,
fairways and mooring areas.
B.
No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of this Town for towing
a person or persons on water skis, or a surfboard, or similar device
unless there is in the vessel a person at least 12 years of age, in
addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of
the person or persons being towed. There shall be aboard the vessel,
in addition to those required for the persons aboard the vessel, at
least one life preserver, life belt, or ring buoy for the person or
persons being towed.
C.
No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of the Town towing
a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device,
nor shall any person engage in water skiing, surfboarding, or similar
activity at any time between the hours from one hour after sunset
to one hour before sunrise.
D.
No person shall operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope, or other
device by which the direction or location of water skis, a surfboard,
or similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to
cause the water skis, surfboard, or similar device, or any person
thereon to collide with or strike against any object or person.
No person shall jump off any bridge traversing any waterway
within the Town of Westerly.
The owners or operators of all vessels operated, moored or anchored
within the waters under the jurisdiction of the Harbormaster shall
not permit acts contrary to the public health or sanitary regulations,
including such laws, ordinances, rules and regulations as shall be
promulgated by the federal, state or local body in authority.
The use of a motorboat or sailboat as a residence is allowed
only within a marina. The operator of a motorboat or sailboat used
as residence shall contact the Harbormaster within 16 hours of mooring
or docking to ensure compliance with harbor regulations regarding
pollution as outlined in this chapter. The owners or operators of
all vessels operated, moored, or anchored within the waters and the
jurisdiction of the Harbormaster shall not permit acts contrary to
the public health or sanitary regulations including such laws, ordinances,
rules, and regulations as shall be promulgated by federal, state or
local authority.
A.
No derelict boats, motors or piers, wharves or docks shall be allowed
in or upon the Town's waters or shores.
B.
The Harbormaster may take custody and control of abandoned vessels,
structures and moorings located in the coastal waters and harbor areas
of the Town and remove, store or otherwise dispose of such vessel,
structure or mooring at the expense and sole risk of the owner of
the abandoned vessel or structure. Reasonable notice of such removal,
storage, or disposal shall be publicly advertised.
C.
The Harbormaster shall assume all the duties and powers of the commissioner
of wrecks and shipwrecked goods as detailed in the RIGL 1956, 46-10-1
et seq.
