2020 Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 85 - 87A — Recreation
Chapter 86B — Water Safety And Watercraft
Section 86B.311 — General Rules For Operation.
Subdivision 1. Safe operation. A person may not operate or allow the operation of a watercraft or use a device relating to the use of the watercraft:
(1) in a careless or heedless manner in disregard of the rights or safety of others;
(2) in a reckless or grossly negligent manner that causes personal injury to another or damage to the property of another;
(3) upon the waters of this state without the equipment required by this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter; or
(4) that is loaded with passengers or cargo beyond the watercraft's safe carrying capacity or is equipped with a motor or other propulsion machinery beyond the watercraft's safe power capacity.
Subd. 2. Obstructing navigation. A person may not operate a watercraft in a manner that obstructs or tends to obstruct normal and ordinary navigation on the waters of this state.
Subd. 3. Unauthorized mooring. A person may not moor, attach, or hold in any manner a watercraft to a buoy or any other marking device or guide placed in the waters of this state pursuant to lawful authority. This subdivision does not apply to a mooring buoy.
Subd. 4. Swimming or bathing areas. A person may not operate a watercraft within a water area that has been marked off or set aside as a swimming or bathing area as prescribed by the commissioner's rules.
Subd. 5. Riding on gunwales or decking. A person may not ride or sit and a person may not operate a motorboat while a person is riding or sitting on (i) the starboard or port gunwales; (ii) the decking over the bow, sides, or stern; or (iii) the transom, of a motorboat while underway unless the motorboat is provided with adequate guards or railing to prevent passengers from falling overboard.
Subd. 6. Law enforcement watercraft; emergency lights. When approaching and passing a law enforcement watercraft with its emergency lights activated, the operator of a watercraft must safely move the watercraft away from the law enforcement watercraft and maintain a slow-no wake speed while within 150 feet of the law enforcement watercraft.
History:1990 c 391 art 9 s 14; 2002 c 323 s 1; 2009 c 176 art 1 s 20
