Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 58-25-4 - Prohibited Operations4.1. No person under the age of 15 may operate or be permitted to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft upon the waters of the State, except persons 12 to 15 years of age may operate a motorboat or personal watercraft if a person over 18 years of age is aboard the motorboat or personal watercraft. However, persons 12 to 15 years of age may operate a motorboat up to a maximum of 10 horsepower without having an adult on board.4.1.1. No person who owns a motorboat or personal watercraft or who has charge over or control of a motorboat or personal watercraft may authorize or knowingly permit a motorboat or personal watercraft to be operated in violation of this rule.4.2. No person may operate or give permission for the operation of a vessel which is not equipped as required under the provisions of section 4 of this rule and W.Va. Code § 20-7-13et seq.4.3. No person may operate a vessel in a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.4.4. No person may operate any motorboat or vessel while under the influence of any alcoholic liquor, nonintoxicating beer, nonintoxicating craft beer, wine, or controlled substances, or while having an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight.4.5. No person may operate or knowingly permit another person to operate a vessel if that person, by reason of physical or mental disability, is incapable of operating the vessel in a safe manner under all the prevailing circumstances.4.6. No person may operate or knowingly permit another person to operate a vessel at a rate of speed greater than will permit that person, in the exercise of reasonable care, to bring the vessel to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead. This section does not apply to the operator of a vessel competing in a regatta which is sanctioned under the provisions of W. Va. Code § 20-7-20 who is attempting to attain high speeds on a marked racecourse.4.7. No person may make a reckless approach to or passage by a dock or ramp, a moored or anchored vessel, or a marked swimming area.4.8. No person may operate a motorboat at a speed greater than the speed limits established on the waters of a government-owned reservoir under W. Va. Code of State Rules, Title 58 Series 26, Special Boating Rule.4.9. This section does not apply to participants in an approved and permitted regatta, race, marine parade, tournament, or exhibition.