75A-1. 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.)
75A-10. 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 manner so as to endanger […]
75A-10.1. 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.)
75A-10.2. 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 […]
75A-10.3. 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.S. […]
75A-11. 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 without serious […]
75A-12. 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 States. (1959, c. 1064, s. […]
75A-13. 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, […]
75A-13.1. 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 […]
75A-13.3. 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 primary source […]
75A-14.1. 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.)
75A-14.2. 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 waiver, the Commission determines that public […]
75A-15. 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 conducted. (2) Promotion of […]
75A-16.1. 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 shall designate those persons […]
75A-16.2. 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 if the […]
75A-17. Enforcement of Chapter. (a) Every wildlife protector and every other law-enforcement officer of this State and its subdivisions shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this Chapter and in the exercise thereof shall have authority to stop any vessel subject to this Chapter. Wildlife protectors or other law enforcement officers of this […]
75A-18. Penalties. (a) Except as otherwise provided, a person who violates a provision of this Article is responsible for an infraction as provided in G.S. 14-3.1. This limitation shall not apply in a case where a more severe penalty is prescribed in this Chapter. (b) through (e) Repealed by Session Laws 2006-185, s. 1. (f) […]
75A-19. Operation of vessels by manufacturers, dealers, etc. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, the Commission may adopt rules regarding the operation of vessels by manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and demonstrators as the Commission may deem necessary and proper. (1959, c. 1064, s. 181/2; 2006-185, s. 1.)
75A-2. 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 […]
75A-3. 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 Safety Committee of the Commission, and who […]
