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Home » US Law » 2022 West Virginia Code » Chapter 20. Natural Resources » Article 7. Law Enforcement, Motorboating, Litter

§20-7-1. Chief Natural Resources Police Officer; Natural Resources Police Officers; Special and Emergency Natural Resources Police Officers; Subsistence Allowance; Expenses

(a) The division’s law-enforcement policies, practices and programs are under the immediate supervision and direction of the division law-enforcement officer selected by the director and designated as chief natural resources police officer as provided in section thirteen, article one of this chapter. (b) Under the supervision of the director, the chief natural resources police officer […]

§20-7-10. Justice of Peace Jurisdiction Under Chapter

Justices of the peace and all other courts established in lieu thereof or in supplementation thereto shall have jurisdiction of all misdemeanor offenses arising under the provisions of this chapter concurrent with the jurisdiction of circuit and other criminal courts.

§20-7-11. Motorboats and Other Terms Defined

As used in this section and subsequent sections of this article, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning: (1) “Vessel” means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water;

§20-7-12. Motorboat Identification Numbers Required; Application for Numbers; Fee; Displaying; Reciprocity; Change of Ownership; Conformity With United States Regulations; Records; Renewal of Certificate; Transfer of Interest, Abandonment, etc.; Change of Address; Unauthorized Numbers; Information to Be Furnished Assessors

Every motorboat, as defined in this section, operating upon public waters whose principal operation is within the territorial limits of this state shall be numbered as provided in this section: (a) The owner of each motorboat requiring numbering by this state shall file an application for a number with the commissioner on forms approved by […]

§20-7-12a. Payment of Personal Property Taxes Prerequisite to Application for Certificate or Renewal of Number; Duties of Assessors; Schedule of Motorboat Values

Certificates of number and renewals therefor shall not be issued or furnished by the Division of Motor Vehicles, or any other officer charged with the duty, unless the applicant therefor furnishes the receipt hereinafter provided to show full payment of the personal property taxes for the current calendar year or the calendar year which immediately […]

§20-7-12b. Boating Safety Education Certificate

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, beginning on January 1, 2001, no person born on or after December 31, 1986, may operate a motorboat or personal watercraft on any waters of this state without first having obtained a certificate of boating safety education from this or any other state, which […]

§20-7-14. Motorboats Exempt From Numbering

A motorboat shall not be required to be numbered under this article if it is: (1) Already covered by a number in full force and effect which has been awarded to it pursuant to federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state: Provided, That the boat shall be registered in the state […]

§20-7-15. Dealers' and Manufacturers' Certificate of Number; Applications and Fees

Dealers' and manufacturers' certificate of number, containing the word "manufacturer" or "dealer," as appropriate, may be used in connection with the operation of any motorboat in the possession of such dealer or manufacturer, when the boat is being used for demonstrative purposes. Application for a dealer's or manufacturer's certificate of number shall be made upon […]

§20-7-16. Boat Liveries

(a) The owner or operator of a boat livery or rental facility shall cause to be kept a record of the name and address of the person or persons hiring any vessel including personal watercrafts which is designed or permitted by him or her to be operated as a motorboat, identification number thereof, and the […]

§20-7-17. Motorboat Muffling

The exhaust of every internal combustion engine used on any motorboat shall be effectively muffled by equipment so constructed and used as to muffle the noise of the exhaust in a reasonable manner. The use of cutouts is prohibited, except for motorboats competing in a regatta or boat race approved as provided in section twenty […]

§20-7-18a. Negligent Homicide; Penalties

(a) When the death of any person ensues within one year as a proximate result of injury received by operating any motorboat, jet ski or other motorized vessel anywhere in this state in reckless disregard of the safety of others, the person so operating the motorboat, jet ski or other motorized vessel is guilty of […]

§20-7-18d. Operation of Personal Watercrafts

(a) No person under the age of 15 may operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this state: Provided, That a person that has attained the age of 12 may operate a personal watercraft if a person 18 years of age or older is aboard the personal watercraft. (b) A person may not operate […]

§20-7-19. Water Skiing and Surfboarding

(a) No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing a person or persons on water skis, surfboard, or similar device, nor shall any person engage in water skiing, surfboarding, or similar activity between sunset and sunrise. (b) The provisions of §20-7-19(a) of this code do not apply to a performer […]

§20-7-19a. Towing Water Skiers and Towables

(a) No person may operate a personal watercraft towing another person on water skis or other towables unless the personal watercraft has, on board, in addition to the operator, a rear-facing observer, who monitors the progress of the person or persons being towed. This rear-facing observer must be at least twelve years of age. (b) […]

§20-7-1a. Natural Resources Police Officer Salary Increase Based on Length of Service

(a) Effective July 1, 2002, each natural resources police officer shall receive and be entitled to an increase in salary based on length of service, including that heretofore and hereafter served as a natural resources police officer as follows: For five years of service with the division, a natural resources police officer shall receive a […]