Oklahoma § 63-4210 - Operation of certain devices or vessels – Prohibited acts

§ 63-4210. Operation of certain devices or vessels – Prohibited acts

– Yielding to emergency vessels - Penalties.

A. No person shall operate, manipulate or give permission to

any person to operate or manipulate any parasails, water skis,

surfboard, personal watercraft, or similar device, or any vessel in

a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life or

property of any person.

B. No person shall lease or otherwise give permission to

another person to operate any vessel on any waters of this state,

except privately owned waters, while the operator is under the

influence of alcohol or any substance included in the Uniform

Controlled Dangerous Substances Act or any combination of alcohol

and such substance.

C. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency

vessel making use of an audible or a visual signal or a combination

thereof, the operator of every other vessel shall immediately stop

his or her vessel whenever or wherever practical or otherwise yield

the right-of-way until such authorized emergency vessel has passed,

except when otherwise directed by a duly authorized peace officer of

this state.

D. No person shall overload or give permission to overload a

vessel with passengers or gear so as to exceed the posted capacity

plate, United States Coast Guard standards, or the vessel

manufacturer’s recommended capacity.

E. No person shall operate or give permission to operate any

vessel on the waters of this state for which the manufacturer has

affixed a maximum horsepower capacity plate so as to exceed the

posted capacity plate or to exceed the United States Coast Guard

standards for maximum horsepower capacity; provided, this provision

shall not apply to vessels operating in sanctioned events.

F. No person shall operate, drive or be in actual physical

control of any vessel on any waters of this state, except privately

owned waters, at speeds in excess of the speed limits established

for those waters.

G. No person shall operate on the waters of this state, except

privately owned waters, any vessel, including personal watercraft,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety

within fifty (50) feet in proximity to another vessel when running

at speeds of over ten (10) miles per hour; provided, this

prohibition shall not apply to vessels operating in sanctioned

events.

H. Any violation of the provisions of this section shall

constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable, upon conviction,

by a fine of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) nor more than Two

Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) and shall be subject to imprisonment

in the county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months.

Added by Laws 1989, c. 346, § 62, emerg. eff. June 3, 1989. Amended

by Laws 1992, c. 284, § 43, eff. Jan. 1, 1993; Laws 1996, c. 337, §

2, eff. July 1, 1996; Laws 2000, c. 237, § 1, emerg. eff. May 24,

2000; Laws 2003, c. 393, § 6, emerg. eff. June 4, 2003; Laws 2008,

c. 95, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2008; Laws 2011, c. 201, § 1, eff. July 1,

2011.