(a) This chapter shall apply to vessels and associated equipment used, to be used, or carried in vessels used on waters subject to the jurisdiction of this state.

(b) This chapter, except those sections that expressly indicate otherwise, shall not apply to the following:

Terms Used In California Harbors and Navigation Code 650.1

  • Associated equipment: means any of the following, excluding radio equipment:

    California Harbors and Navigation Code 651

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Owner: is a person having all the incidents of ownership, including the legal title, of a vessel whether or not that person lends, rents, or pledges the vessel. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
  • State: means a state of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the District of Columbia. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
  • Vessel: includes every description of a watercraft or other artificial contrivance used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, except either of the following:

    California Harbors and Navigation Code 651

(1) Foreign vessels temporarily using waters subject to state jurisdiction.

(2) Military or public vessels of the United States, except recreational-type public vessels.

(3) A vessel whose owner is a state or subdivision thereof, that is used principally for governmental purposes, and that is clearly identifiable as such.

(4) Ship’s lifeboats.

(c) For purposes of this chapter, “subdivision thereof” or “subdivision of the state” includes cities and counties.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 203, Sec. 1. (AB 1682) Effective January 1, 2023.)

  Previous section
Next section  
 Article 1 Contents