Specifications
48 49
Operatingavesselwhileintoxicatedisdangerousandafederalof-
fenseIfanoperatorofarecreationalboathasabloodalcoholcontent
of08(10insomestates)orgreater,theoperatorissubjecttoacivil
penaltynottoexceed$1,000acriminalpenaltynottoexceed$5,000,
oraone-yearimprisonment,orbothIntoxicatedoperatorswhoare
citedbytheCoastGuardmayalsobecitedbyotherstateorlocallaw
enforcementofficialsStatecriminalpenaltiesmayvaryandcould
includearrest,fines,and/orlossofmotorvehicledrivingprivileges
AUSCoastGuardBoardingOfficerwhoobservesavesselbeing
operatedinanunsafecondition,specificallydefinedbylaworregula-
tion,anddeterminesthatanespeciallyhazardousconditionexiststhat
cannotbecorrectedonthespot,mayterminatethevessel’svoyage
anddirecttheoperatortoreturntoport
Terminationforunsafeusemaybeimposedfor:
• Insufficientlife-savingdevices
• Insufficientfireextinguishers
• Anoverloadedvessel
• Improperdisplayofnavigationlights
• Improperventilationoffueltanksandenginespaces
• Fuelleakoraccumulationoffuelinthebilges
• Inadequatebackfireflamecontrol
• Operatinginregulatedboatingareasduringpredetermined
adverseconditions(appliesonlytoThirteenthUSCGDistrict:
Idaho,Montana,Oregon,Washington)
• Amanifestlyunsafevoyage
AnoperatorwhorefusestocomplywiththedirectionsofaUSCoast
GuardBoardingOfficertoterminatetheunsafeuseofarecreational
vesselcanbecitedforfailuretocomplywiththeBoardingOfficer’s
instruction,aswellasforthespecificviolationthatwasthebasisforthe
terminationorderViolatorsmaybefinedupto$1,000,orimprisoned
foruptooneyear,orboth
Theoperatororownerofanyrecreationalboatisrequiredtofilea
BoatingAccidentReportiftheboatisinvolvedinanaccidentthat
resultsinanyofthefollowing:
• Lossoflife
• Apersondisappearsfromthevesselundercircumstances
thatindicatedeathorinjury
• Personalinjurythatrequiresmedicaltreatmentbeyond
basicfirstaid
• Damagetotheboatandotherpropertydamageof$2,000or
more
• Completelossoftheboat
Boatoperatorsarerequiredtoreporttheiraccidenttolocalauthorities
inthestatewheretheaccidentoccurred
ImmediatenotificationisrequiredforfatalaccidentsIfapersondiesor
goesmissingasaresultofarecreationalboatingaccident,thenearest
state
boatingauthoritymustbenotifiedwithoutdelayThefollowing
informationmustbeprovided:
• Date,time,andexactlocationoftheaccident
• Nameofeachpersonwhodiedorwentmissing
• Numberandnameofthevessel
• Nameandaddressoftheownerandoperator
Ifapersondies,goesmissingfromtheboat,orreceivesinjuriesrequir-
ingmedicaltreatmentbeyondbasicfirstaid,aformalreportmustbe
filedwithin48hoursoftheaccident
Foraccidentsinvolvingpropertydamageof$2,000ormore,orthe
completelossofavessel,aformalreportmustbemadewithin10days
Notethatstaterequirementsforreportingboatingaccidentsmaybe
morestringentthanfederalrequirementsSomestates,forexample,
mayrequirethatallboatingaccidentsbereportedimmediatelyCheck
withthelocalmarinepatrolortheBoatingLawAdministratorinthe
statewheretheaccidentoccurredforthereportingproceduresthat