[Adopted 10-18-1993 FATM, Art. 43]
All vessels operating on the great pond known
as Webster Lake in the Town of Webster shall comply with the following
Webster Lake Rules and Regulations, MGL c. 90B, and the Division of
Law Enforcement Regulations 323 CMR 1.00 — 5.00.
All General Laws and Rules and Regulations shall
be enforced by officers of the Webster Police Department and the Massachusetts
Environmental Police as those laws apply to MGL c. 90B.
No person shall operate a vessel after drinking
intoxicating liquor, taking narcotic drugs, barbiturates, or marijuana.
No opened alcoholic beverages shall be carried on board any vessel
at any time. Tests will be administered to determine the same standards
as driving a motor vehicle.
No person shall operate or permit the operation
of any motorboat without a valid certificate of number (registration).
The certificate of number shall be carried on
board or person. Certificate numbers shall be displayed in size "3"
block of contrasting hull color.
All motor boat equipment on board shall comply
with MGL c. 90B and 323 CMR 2.06; Generally this will include: lights,
paddle, anchor line, bailer, sounding device, fire extinguisher, USCG
approved personal flotation device (PFD) type I, II, III, or IV for
each person on board, muffler or under water exhaust, and flame arrestor
(inboards only).
All persons shall stop when directed to do so
by a police officer in uniform or any authorized person showing a
badge.
No person shall operate a motorboat negligently
with a person in tow as to endanger the lives of the public. No person
shall be towed after sunset or before sunrise.
All persons in tow shall wear a USCG approved
PFD of type I, II or III; except as outlined in 323 CMR 2.07:9.
No person shall operate any motorboat with a
person in tow unless there is in such boat a person who has attained
age 12 in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the person
being towed and unless such motorboat is equipped with a ladder, steps,
or similar means by which the person being towed can be taken from
the water.
A.
All motorboats must be operated in such a manner and
at such a distance to prevent their wash from being thrown into or
causing excessive rocking to other vessels, rafts, or floats.
B.
Waterskiers shall ski at a safe distance to prevent
their wash from being thrown into or causing excessive rocking to
other vessels, rafts, or floats.
C.
Motorboats shall not be operated: within 150 feet
of the seaward boundary of shoreline which is being used as a swimming
area whether public or private or; within 75 feet of the seaward boundary
of a public bathing beach if designated by markers, floats or otherwise.
This regulation 323 CMR 2.07(1) shall apply to motorboats, barges,
waterskiers, or other devices being towed by power and the operator
of the towing vessel shall be responsible for compliance therewith.
D.
No person shall operate any motorboat on Webster Lake
while towing a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard or other
similar device, unless such motorboat is equipped with a ladder, steps,
or similar means by which any person being towed can be taken from
the water.
E.
No sections of Regulation Number 11 shall apply to
a performer engaged in a professional exhibition which has been previously
approved by the licensing authorities.
A speed no greater than 10 m.p.h., or a person
in tow shall be allowed in the cove known as Nipmuc Cove located at
the boat ramp in the Webster Memorial Beach area.
No person shall operate a motorboat or craft
at a speed greater than 45 miles per hour with the exception of special
permits as issued by 323 CMR 2.09.
No person shall operate a motorboat or craft
to create a wake or in excess of five miles per hour when passing
through a channel. Channel is defined as 150 feet on either side of
the posted speed limit. Markers are set at the Narrows section, Point
Breeze section, and the Long Island section.
No person shall be towed through a channel.
The speed limit of all boats operating after
sunset and before sunrise shall be 10 miles per hour.
Any person on any vessel under age 12 shall
wear a USCG approved PFD of type I, II or III at all times.
Any person on a raft, tube or similar inflatable
device more than 50 feet from shore shall wear a USCG approved PFD
of type I, II or III.
Any swimmer more than 150 feet from shore shall
be attended by a boat.
No person shall be allowed to sit on gunwales
or decks unless there are adequate guardrails.
All scuba divers must display a diver's flag
(float). Boats must remain 100 feet from diver's flag.
The operator of any boat involved in an accident,
collision, or other casualty, shall report to the Webster Police Department
within 48 hours and shall submit in writing a copy of said report
to the Massachusetts Environmental Police in accordance with MGL c.
90B.
Rowboats, canoes, and sailboats shall have the
right-of-way at all times on any part of the lake.
No one shall operate a jet ski watercraft, surf
jet, water bike or other so called personal watercraft under the age
of 16.
Any person operating a jet ski or personal watercraft
shall wear a USCG approved PFD type I, II, or III at all times.
No one shall operate a jet ski or personal watercraft
after sunset or before sunrise.
[Added 10-16-2017 ATM
by Art. 28]
A.
Personal watercrafts shall be prohibited from being launched at the
Town of Webster Memorial Beach Boat Ramp by individuals who are not
residents of the Town of Webster.
B.
Any personal watercraft launched at the Town of Webster Memorial
Beach Boat Ramp shall be registered with the Massachusetts Environmental
Police utilizing a Webster address or shall be towed into Memorial
Beach by a vehicle registered with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor
Vehicles utilizing a Webster address. Proper documentation shall be
provided upon request of an employee of the Town of Webster Parks
and Recreation Department.
C.
Personal watercraft not meeting the above listed requirements shall
not be allowed entrance into Memorial Beach Park.
D.
Nothing in this section shall restrict a seasonal resident of Webster
Lake, with proper documentation of property ownership, from launching
a Personal Watercraft at the Town of Webster Memorial Beach Boat Ramp.
Further, nothing in this section shall prohibit the use of any personal
watercraft on Webster Lake nor shall it prohibit the lawful launching
of any personal watercraft at any other public or private boat launch
located within the Town of Webster.
No skier or any other type of tow with a person
aboard shall be towed through any channel.
No person shall tow a person(s) attempting to
para-sail or glider-sail from the rear of a boat without first obtaining
the necessary permits from both State and local agencies.
[Added 5-10-2010 STM, Art. 9]
No person shall powerload a motorboat while approaching any
Town-owned docking area or ramp. No person shall create a wake or
accelerate while approaching the docking area or boat ramp with his/her
motorboat. Violators will be subject to a fine of one hundred dollars
($100.).
