Ohio · statute · Ohio Rev. Code ch. 1547 · 85 active provisions
Unless otherwise provided, this chapter applies to all vessels operating on the waters in this state. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed in contravention of any valid federal act or regulation, but is in addition to the act or regulation where not inconsistent. The state reserves to itself the exclusive right t…
No person shall install or use any intermittently flashing light of any type or color on any vessel in use or operation on the waters in this state, except in accordance with federal law.No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel on the waters in this state in violation of this section.
No person, except an authorized watercraft representative of the federal government, the state, or any of its political subdivisions shall use or operate a siren on the waters in this state except for emergency purposes.No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel on the waters in this state in violation…
(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no person born on or after January 1, 1982, shall operate on the waters in this state a powercraft powered by more than ten horsepower, unless the operator successfully has completed either a safe boater course approved by the national association of state boating…
A person born on or after January 1, 1982, who is operating on the waters in this state a powercraft powered by more than ten horsepower and who is stopped by a law enforcement officer in the enforcement of Chapter 1547. of the Revised Code or rules shall present to the law enforcement officer, not later than seventy-t…
(A) No rental business shall lease, hire, or rent a powercraft powered by more than ten horsepower for operation on the waters in this state to a person born on or after January 1, 1982, unless the person meets one of the following requirements:(1) The person signs a statement on the rental agreement or attached to the…
(A) Except as otherwise provided in this division, no person under sixteen years of age shall operate a personal watercraft on the waters in this state. A person who is not less than twelve, nor more than fifteen years of age may operate a personal watercraft if a supervising person eighteen years of age or older is ab…
(A) Any person who operates any vessel or manipulates any water skis, aquaplane, or similar device on the waters in this state carelessly or heedlessly, or in disregard of the rights or safety of any person, vessel, or property, or without due caution, at a rate of speed or in a manner so as to endanger any person, ves…
(A) If a law enforcement officer observes a vessel being used and determines that at least one of the unsafe conditions identified in division (C) of this section is present and that an especially hazardous condition exists, the officer may direct the operator of the vessel to take whatever immediate and reasonable act…
No person shall operate or permit the operation of a vessel on the waters in this state without maintaining sufficient control to avoid an incident that results in property damage, physical injury, loss of life, or any combination of them.
(A) No person shall operate a vessel within or through a designated bathing area or within or through any area that has been buoyed off designating it as an area in which vessels are prohibited.(B)(1) No person shall operate a vessel at greater than idle speed or at a speed that creates a wake under any of the followin…
No person shall moor or anchor any vessel in a designated speed zone or water ski zone. No person, unless in distress and no other vessel is endangered thereby, shall moor to, anchor to, or tie up to any marker, aid, buoy, light, or other aid to navigation.No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel on…
In case of accident to or collision with persons or property on the waters of this state, due to the operation of any vessel, the operator having knowledge of the accident or collision shall immediately stop the vessel at the scene of the accident or collision, to the extent that it is safe and practical, and shall rem…
(A) No person shall operate or be in physical control of any vessel underway or shall manipulate any water skis, aquaplane, or similar device on the waters in this state if, at the time of the operation, control, or manipulation, any of the following applies: (1) The person is under the influence of alcohol, a drug of…
(A)(1)(a) Any person who operates or is in physical control of a vessel or manipulates any water skis, aquaplane, or similar device upon any waters in this state shall be deemed to have given consent to a chemical test or tests to determine the alcohol, drug of abuse, controlled substance, metabolite of a controlled su…
No person shall operate any vessel if the person is so mentally or physically incapacitated as to be unable to operate the vessel in a safe and competent manner.No person shall permit any vessel to be operated on the waters in this state in violation of this section.
(A) No person shall fail to comply with any lawful order or direction of any law enforcement officer having authority to direct, control, or regulate the operation or use of vessels.(B) No person shall operate any vessel so as to purposely elude or flee from a law enforcement officer after receiving a visible or audibl…
Upon the approach of a law enforcement vessel with at least one flashing, rotating, or oscillating light of a color conforming with the requirements of federal law, the operator of any vessel shall stop if followed or give way in any crossing, head-on, or overtaking situation and shall remain in that position until the…
(A) As used in this section, "public service" means activities that include, but are not limited to, escorting or patrolling special water events, traffic control, salvage, firefighting, medical assistance, assisting disabled vessels, and search and rescue. (B) No person shall operate a vessel at a speed that creates a…
(A) Except on the waters of the Ohio River or Lake Erie and immediately connected harbors and bays, any person who rides or attempts to ride upon one or more water skis, surfboard, or similar device, or who engages or attempts to engage in barefoot skiing, and any person who operates a vessel towing a person riding or…
Any person who operates a vessel towing any person riding or attempting to ride upon one or more water skis or upon a surfboard or similar device, or engaging or attempting to engage in barefoot skiing, on the waters in this state shall have present in the vessel a person or persons other than the operator, ten years o…
No person shall ride or attempt to ride upon water skis, surfboard, or similar device, or engage or attempt to engage in barefoot skiing, or use or operate any vessel to tow any person thereon on the waters in this state during that period of the day between sunset and sunrise, except upon special permit issued by the…
(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no person shall engage in any form of towed watersports without wearing an adequate and effective coast guard approved wearable personal flotation device specifically designed for towed watersports, in good and serviceable condition and of appropriate size, except…
No person shall install or maintain any structure or inclined platform known as a water ski jump on the waters in this state. No person shall use any such platform or structure for the purpose of water ski jumping, except upon special permit issued by the state department, conservancy district, or political subdivision…
No person or organization shall conduct any race, regatta, or other special event upon the waters in this state without first obtaining written permission, upon application not less than thirty days prior to the time of the proposed race, regatta, or event, of the federal agency, state department, conservancy district,…