STATE of INDIANA - Boater Safety
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BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
It is illegal to operate a motorboat or PWC while intoxicated due to alcohol or any combination of alcohol, controlled substance, or drugs. It is also unlawful for the owner of the boat or PWC to allow anyone else to operate their boat or PWC while that person is intoxicated. You may be arrested if your blood alcohol level is over 0.05%. IF ARRESTED AND CONVICTED OF BOATIING WHILE INTOXICATED; you will face the penalties of a Class C Misdemeanor. In addition, if this is your first offense or the first in 10 years, you may lose all driving privileges [motorboat and motor vehicle] for at least 90 days and up to two years.
PWC/JETSKI REGULATIONS -PWCS MAY BE OPERATED ONLY DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS UNLESS EQUIPPED WITH APPROPRIATE LIGHTING.
Each person on board a PWC must wear a PFD. PWC must have power to maintain control. If you allow the engine to return to idle or shut off during operation, you lose all steering control. You may not:
Ride too closely behind another PWC
Weave through congested traffic
Follow a watercraft that is towing other individuals.
Jump the wake of another watercraft.
Cut between a boat and an individual being towed.
Cross paths with another watercraft when vision is obstructed.
Steer toward an object or person in the water and turn sharply at close range.
Should you be ticketed by an enforcement office for one of these crimes, you could have points assessed against your driver’s license.
TOWING REGULATIONS
Every boat or PWC towing a person[s] on water skis, an aquaplane or towable device MUST HAVE A PERSON ON BOARD, IN ADDITION TO THE
BOAT OPERATOR, OBSERVING THE TOWED PERSON[S] AT ALL TIMES
If towing a person behind a PWC, the PWC must be at least nine [9] feet in length and be rated for three people – the driver, the observe, the skier/tuber.
ALL persons being towed behind a boat or PWC MUST WEAR A USCG approved personal flotation device [PFD]
Persons may be towed during daylight hours only. It is unlawful to pull water skiers or any other device after sunset and before sunrise.
All boats and PWC must be outside of the buoys before accelerating. At no time is the skier, tuber, etc. allowed inside the buoys when a boat is moving above idle speed.
For a complete list of rules, go to HTTPS://WWW.Boat-ed.com/assets/pdf/handbook/in_handbook_entire.pdf]
The Hamilton Lake Association offers IN DNR Boater safety classes annually. Please attend.
The HLA would ask those individuals who know the laws to approach those breaking the rules in a respectful way and explain the risks. Use you cell phones to take pictures including the registration number located on the watercraft and send it to the DNR with a brief description to iocdist2@dnr.in.gov. The DNR will act.
If you need immediate assistance from the DNR or to report any watercraft accident, please call 911 or the DNR dispatch 812-837-9536.
JLB 6/2021