Each motorboat and vessel operated within or docked within Lake
Bridgeport shall bear upon the motorboat or vessel current insignia,
numbers and certificates applicable to the type and model of motorboat
or vessel as required by law. Motorboats and vessels operated within
Lake Bridgeport shall have insurance in a type and amount required
by law.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.005),
adopted 4/15/08)
(a)
No
person may operate a motorboat in a circular course around any other
boat any occupant of which is engaged in fishing or around any person
swimming.
(b)
No
swimmer or diver may come within 200 yards of a sightseeing or excursion
boat except for maintenance purposes or unless within an enclosed
area.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.007),
adopted 4/15/08)
(a)
No
person may moor or attach a boat to a buoy, beacon, light marker,
stake, flag, or other aid to safe operation placed upon Lake Bridgeport
or the state [sic]. No person may move, remove, displace, tamper with,
damage, or destroy the markers or aids to safe operation.
(b)
No
person may moor or attach a vessel, personal watercraft, or motorboat
to a city-owned boat launching ramp except in connection with the
launching or retrieving of a boat from the water.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.008),
adopted 4/15/08)
(a)
No
person may anchor a motorboat, personal watercraft or vessel in the
traveled portion of Lake Bridgeport so as to prevent, impede, or interfere
with the safe passage of any other motorboat, personal watercraft,
or vessel through the same area.
(b)
No
person may anchor a motorboat, watercraft, or vessel near a city-owned
boat ramp so as to prevent, impede, or interfere with the use of the
boat ramp.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.009),
adopted 4/15/08)
No person may operate a motorboat, watercraft, or vessel within
a water area that has been clearly marked, by buoys or some other
distinguishing device, as a bathing, fishing, swimming, or otherwise
restricted area by the city. This section does not apply to a patrol
or rescue craft or in the case of an emergency.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.010),
adopted 4/15/08)
(a)
No
person may operate a motorboat, personal watercraft, or vessel within
50 feet of a buoy or of another vessel displaying a “diver down”
flag that marks an area in which a person is scuba diving or snorkeling.
(b)
No
person may operate a motorboat, personal watercraft, or vessel at
a speed greater than the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerageway
and headway while the motorboat, watercraft or vessel is within 150
feet of a buoy or a vessel displaying a “diver down” flag
that marks an area in which a person is scuba diving or snorkeling.
(c)
To
be entitled to the protections of this section, a scuba diver or snorkeler
must prominently display a “diver down” flag from a buoy
or vessel.
(e)
Subsection (a) of this section does not apply:
(1)
To a person who is already operating a vessel in an area when another
person displays a “diver down” flag within 150 feet of
that vessel;
(2)
To a person who is operating a vessel in a waterway that is less
than 300 feet wide; or
(3)
To a person who has permission to enter the area from the person
who placed the buoy or the person who is operating the vessel displaying
the “diver down” flag.
(f)
In
this section, “diver down” flag means a square or rectangular
red flag at least 15 inches by 15 inches that has a diagonal white
stripe.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.011),
adopted 4/15/08)
(a)
No
person may operate a motorboat or a vessel on the waters of Lake Bridgeport
towing a person or persons on water skis, surfboards, or similar devices
and no person while being towed may engage in water-skiing, surfboarding,
or similar activity at any time between the hours from one-half hour
after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
(b)
All
motorboats having in tow or otherwise assisting in towing a person
on water skis, aquaplanes, or similar contrivances shall be operated
in a careful and prudent manner and at a reasonable distance from
persons and property so as not to endanger the life or property of
any person.
(c)
A
person being towed on water skis, aquaplanes, or similar devices by
a vessel is considered an occupant of the vessel.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.012),
adopted 4/15/08)
(a)
No
person shall operate a personal watercraft in the following manner
or under the following circumstances:
(1)
Unless each person riding on or towed behind the vessel is wearing
a U.S. Coast Guard approved type I, II, III, or V personal flotation
device;
(2)
If the vessel is equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyard type
engine cutoff switch, unless such lanyard is attached to the person,
clothing, or personal flotation device of the operator as appropriate
for the vessel involved;
(3)
During the period between sunset and sunrise;
(4)
Within 50 feet of any other vessel, person, stationary platform or
other object, or shore, except at headway speed;
(6)
If the personal watercraft is a motorboat, within any area prohibited
for operation of a motorboat;
(7)
While towing water skis, an aquaplane, a surfboard, a tube, or any
other similar device, unless the towing vessel is designed to carry
on board a minimum of two persons;
(8)
By jumping the wake of another vessel recklessly or unnecessarily
close to that vessel; or
(9)
In a manner that requires the operator to swerve at the last possible
moment to avoid collision.
(b)
The
provisions of this section do not apply to professional exhibitions
or an officially sanctioned race, tournament, or exhibition.
(c)
Subsection (a)(4) of this section does not prohibit the operation of personal watercraft on bodies of water less than 100 feet in width.
(d)
An
owner of a personal watercraft permitting a person under 18 years
of age to operate the personal watercraft in a manner prohibited by
this section may be notified of the violation.
(e)
For
the purposes of this section, a person is considered to be accompanying
the operator of a personal watercraft if the person is on board the
personal watercraft when underway.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.013),
adopted 4/15/08)
No person may operate a motorboat of over 15 horsepower on Lake
Bridgeport unless the person is 16 years of age or older or:
(1)
Is
accompanied by a person (18) years of age or older; or
(2)
Is
at least 13 years of age and has successfully passed a boating safety
course prescribed and approved by the department.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.014),
adopted 4/15/08)
(d)
A
boater identification card issued to a person who has successfully
completed a boater education course or course equivalency examination
does not expire.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.015),
adopted 4/15/08)
(a)
A
vessel livery must purchase liability insurance from an insurer licensed
to do business in this state.
(b)
Before
releasing possession of a rented vessel, a vessel livery shall provide
each operator of the rented vessel instruction relating to:
(c)
After providing the instruction required by subsection (b) and before releasing possession of the rented vessel, the vessel livery shall require each operator to sign an acknowledgment form indicating that the operator has received the required instruction. The vessel livery shall retain the form for at least six months.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.016),
adopted 4/15/08)
The operator of a vessel or motorboat underway, on sighting
a rotating or flashing blue beacon light, shall reduce power immediately
and bring the vessel or motorboat to a no-wake speed and subsequent
stop until the intention of the water safety vessel is understood.
(Ordinance 461, sec. I (99.017),
adopted 4/15/08)
