Ohio § 1547.251 Use of approved distress signals or flags

Ohio Statutes

§ 1547.251 — Use of approved distress signals or flags

Ohio § 1547.251

Title 15Conservation of Natural Resources

Ch. 1547Watercraft And Waterways

This text of Ohio § 1547.251 (Use of approved distress signals or flags) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1547.251 (2026).

Text

(A)No person shall operate on the waters of Lake Erie or the immediately connecting bays, harbors, and anchorage areas at any time a vessel that is sixteen or more feet in length or any vessel carrying six or fewer passengers for hire without carrying coast guard approved visual distress signals for both day and night use.

(B)No person shall operate upon the waters of Lake Erie or the immediately connecting bays, harbors, and anchorage areas during the period from sunset to sunrise according to local time any of the following without carrying coast guard approved visual distress signals for night use:

(1)A vessel less than sixteen feet in length;

(2)A vessel competing in an organized marine parade, race, regatta, or similar event;

(3)A manually propelled vessel;

(4)A sailboat le

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(A) No person shall operate on the waters of Lake Erie or the immediately connecting bays, harbors, and anchorage areas at any time a vessel that is sixteen or more feet in length or any vessel carrying six or fewer passengers for hire without carrying coast guard approved visual distress signals for both day and night use.

(B) No person shall operate upon the waters of Lake Erie or the immediately connecting bays, harbors, and anchorage areas during the period from sunset to sunrise according to local time any of the following without carrying coast guard approved visual distress signals for night use:

(1) A vessel less than sixteen feet in length;

(2) A vessel competing in an organized marine parade, race, regatta, or similar event;

(3) A manually propelled vessel;

(4) A sailboat less than twenty-six feet in length with completely open construction and without propulsion machinery.

(C) No person shall operate a vessel on the waters in this state other than Lake Erie or the immediately connecting bays, harbors, and anchorage areas unless the vessel carries either a distress flag at least two feet square and international orange in color or a coast guard approved daytime distress signal.

(D) No person shall display any distress signal unless a vessel or a person is in distress and in need of help.

(E) Divisions (A) and (C) of this section do not apply to any of the following:

(1) Vessels competing in an organized marine parade, race, regatta, or similar event;

(2) Manually propelled vessels;

(3) Sailboats less than twenty-six feet in length with completely open construction and without propulsion machinery.

(F) The distress signals required by this section shall be in good and serviceable condition, readily accessible, and of the type and quantities required by regulations adopted under 46 U.S.C. 4302, as amended.

(G) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel on the waters in this state in violation of this section.