Florida Statutes 327.50 – Vessel safety regulations; equipment and lighting requirements
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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(1)(a) The owner and operator of every vessel on the waters of this state shall carry, store, maintain, and use safety equipment in accordance with current United States Coast Guard safety equipment requirements as specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, unless expressly exempted by the commission.
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 327.50
- Commission: means the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. See Florida Statutes 327.02
- Length: means the measurement from end to end over the deck parallel to the centerline, excluding sheer. See Florida Statutes 327.02
- Navigation rules: means , for vessels on:(a) Waters outside established navigational lines of demarcation as specified in 33 C. See Florida Statutes 327.02
- Operate: means to be in charge of, in command of, or in actual physical control of a vessel upon the waters of this state, to exercise control over or to have responsibility for a vessel's navigation or safety while the vessel is underway upon the waters of this state, or to control or steer a vessel being towed by another vessel upon the waters of the state. See Florida Statutes 327.02
- Owner: means a person, other than a lienholder, having the property in or title to a vessel. See Florida Statutes 327.02
- Person: means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, or other entity. See Florida Statutes 327.02
- Vessel: is synonymous with boat as referenced in…. See Florida Statutes 327.02
- Waters of this state: means any navigable waters of the United States within the territorial limits of this state, the marginal sea adjacent to this state and the high seas when navigated as a part of a journey or ride to or from the shore of this state, and all the inland lakes, rivers, and canals under the jurisdiction of this state. See Florida Statutes 327.02
(b) A person may not operate a vessel less than 26 feet in length on the waters of this state unless every person under 6 years of age on board the vessel is wearing a personal flotation device currently approved by the United States Coast Guard and used in accordance with the United States Coast Guard approval label while such vessel is underway. For the purpose of this section, “underway” means at all times except when a vessel is anchored, moored, made fast to the shore, or aground.
(2) No person shall operate a vessel on the waters of this state unless said vessel is equipped with properly serviceable lights and shapes required by the navigation rules.
(3) The use of sirens or flashing, occulting, or revolving lights on any vessel is prohibited, except as expressly provided in the navigation rules or annexes thereto.
(4) The operator of a vessel used in the instruction of a water sport or activity must use an engine cutoff switch and wear an operative link to the switch when a person participating in the water sport or activity is in the water.