North Carolina · statute · N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 75A · 47 active provisions
Declaration of policy. It is the policy of this State to promote safety for persons and property in and connected with the use, operation, and equipment of vessels, and to promote uniformity of laws relating thereto. (1959, c. 1064, s. 1.)
Definitions. As used in this Chapter, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning: (1) "Abandoned vessel" means a vessel that has been relinquished, left, or given up by the lawful owner without the intention to later resume any right or interest in the vessel. The term does not include a vessel that is lef…
Wildlife Resources Commission to administer Chapter; Boating Safety Committee; funds for administration. (a) The Commission shall enforce and administer the provisions of this Chapter. (b) The chair of the Commission shall designate from among the members of the Commission three members who shall serve as the Boating S…
Identification numbers required. Every vessel on the waters of this State shall be numbered, except those vessels exempted from numbering under G.S. 75A-7. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any vessel on the waters of this State unless all of the following conditions are met: (1) The vesse…
Application for certificate of number; fees; reciprocity; change of ownership; conformity with federal regulations; records; award of certificates; renewal of certificates; transfer of partial interest; destroyed or junked vessels; abandonment; change of address; duplicate certificates; display. (a) Application for Cer…
Vessel agents. (a) In order to facilitate the convenience of the public, the efficiency of administration, the need to keep statistics and records affecting the conservation of wildlife resources, boating, water safety, and other matters within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and to facilitate vessel transactions,…
Classification; rules. (a) Vessels subject to the provisions of this Chapter shall be divided into five categories as follows: (1) Class A. Less than 16 feet in length. (2) Class 1. Sixteen feet or over and less than 26 feet in length. (3) Class 2. Twenty-six feet or over and less than 40 feet in length. (4) Class 3. F…
Navigation rules. (a) Every vessel operated on the waters of this State that is required to obtain an identification number pursuant to this Chapter, has a valid marine document issued by the federal Bureau of Customs or any federal agency successor to it, or issued pursuant to a federally approved numbering system of…
Exemption from numbering requirements. (a) A vessel shall not be required to be numbered under this Chapter if it is: (1) A vessel that is required to be awarded an identification number pursuant to federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state, and for which an identification number has been so…
Vessel liveries. An owner of a vessel livery shall not rent a vessel to any person unless the provisions of this Chapter have been complied with. An owner of a vessel livery shall equip all vessels rented as required by this Chapter. (1959, c. 1064, s. 8; 1975, c. 340, s. 3; 1983, c. 446, s. 1; 2006-185, s. 1.)
Muffling devices. (a) Every internal combustion engine used on a vessel shall have effective muffling equipment installed and used on the exhaust to muffle the noise in a reasonable manner. The use of cutouts is prohibited. (b) Every internal combustion engine with an open-air exhaust that is used on a vessel that has…
Operating vessel or manipulating water skis, etc., in reckless manner; operating, etc., while intoxicated, etc.; depositing or discharging litter, etc. (a) No person shall operate any motorboat or vessel, or manipulate any water skis, surfboard, or similar device on the waters of this State in a reckless or negligent m…
Family purpose doctrine applicable. The family purpose doctrine, as applicable in this State to tort cases arising from the operation of motor vehicles, shall apply to tort cases arising from the operation of motorboats and vessels as those terms are defined in this Chapter. (1971, c. 450, s. 1.)
Proof of ownership of a vessel. (a) In all actions to recover damages for injury to the person or to property or for the death of a person, arising out of an accident or collision involving a vessel, proof of ownership of such vessel at the time of the accident or collision shall be prima facie evidence that the vessel…
Death or serious injury by impaired boating; repeat offenses. (a) Death by Impaired Boating. - A person commits the offense of death by impaired boating if all of the following apply: (1) The person unintentionally causes the death of another person. (2) The person was engaged in the offense of impaired boating under G…
Duty of operator involved in collision, accident, casualty, or other occurrence. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term "occurrence" means a collision, accident, casualty, or other similar occurrence involving a vessel. The operator of a vessel involved in an occurrence, so far as the operator is able to do so…
Furnishing information to agency of United States. In accordance with any request duly made by an authorized official or agency of the United States, any information compiled or otherwise available to the Commission pursuant to G.S. 75A-11(b) shall be transmitted to the requesting official or agency of the United State…
Water skis, surfboards, etc. (a) No person shall operate a vessel on any water of this State for towing a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device unless at least one of the following conditions is met: (1) There is in the vessel a person, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the…
Skin and scuba divers. (a) No person shall engage in skin diving or scuba diving in the waters of this State that are open to boating, or assist in such diving, without displaying a diver's flag from a mast, buoy, or other structure at the place of diving; and no person shall display such flag except when diving operat…
Personal watercraft. (a) No person shall operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this State at any time between sunset and sunrise. For purposes of this section, "personal watercraft" means a small vessel that uses an outboard or propeller-driven motor, or an inboard motor powering a water jet pump, as its prima…
Lake Norman No-Wake Zone. It is unlawful to operate a vessel at greater than no-wake speed within 50 yards of a vessel launching area, bridge, dock, pier, marina, vessel storage structure, or vessel service area on the waters of Lake Norman. (1997-129, s. 4; 1997-257, s. 10; 1998-217, s. 49; 2006-185, s. 1.)
Temporary waiver of enforcement of no-wake zones. The Wildlife Resources Commission may temporarily and conditionally waive enforcement of a no-wake zone upon petition by a unit of local government that encompasses or abuts the no-wake zone if, after investigation of the reasons given for the temporary and conditional…
Rules on water safety; adoption of the United States Aids to Navigation System. (a) In accordance with subsection (b) of this section, the Commission is empowered to adopt rules, for the local water in question, as to: (1) Operation of vessels, including restrictions concerning speed zones, and type of activity conduct…
Boating safety course. (a) The Commission shall institute and coordinate a statewide course of instruction in boating safety, and in so doing may cooperate with any political subdivision of the State or with any reputable organization having as one of its objectives the promotion of boating safety. (b) The Commission s…
Boating safety education required. (a) No person shall operate a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or greater on the public waters of this State unless the operator has met the requirements for boating safety education. (b) A person shall be considered in compliance with the requirements of boating safety education…