§ 46-22-9. Prohibited operation.
(a) No person shall operate any motorboat or vessel, or manipulate any water skis, surfboard,
or similar device in a reckless manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property
of another.
(b) No person shall operate any motorboat or vessel or manipulate any water skis, surfboard,
or similar device while intoxicated or under the influence of any narcotic drug, barbiturate,
or marijuana. A person arrested and charged with operating any motorboat or vessel,
or manipulating any water skis, surfboard, or similar device, while under the influence
of intoxicating liquor or narcotic or habit-forming drugs, shall have the right to
be examined at his or her own expense immediately after his or her arrest, by a physician
selected by him or her, and the officer so arresting or so charging that person shall
immediately inform that person of this right and afford him or her a reasonable opportunity
to exercise this right, and at the trial of that person the prosecution must prove
that he or she was so informed and was afforded the opportunity.
(c) No person shall operate a motorboat or vessel within a water area, which has been
clearly marked, in accordance with, and as authorized by, the laws of the state, by
buoys or some other distinguishing device as a bathing, swimming, or otherwise restricted
area; provided, that this section shall not apply in the case of an emergency, or
to patrol or rescue craft. The department of environmental management, is hereby authorized
to establish maximum speeds for boats in the public harbors in the state of Rhode
Island at five (5) miles per hour, no wake. Any such speed limits duly established
by the department of environmental management, pursuant hereto, shall have the full
force and effect of law, and a violation thereof shall be a misdemeanor in accordance
with the penalties enumerated in § 46-22-19(3).
(d) No person shall operate any motorboat, vessel, or seaplane in a manner which shall
unreasonably or unnecessarily interfere with any other motorboat, vessel, or seaplane,
or with the free and proper navigation of the waterways of the state. Anchoring under
bridges or in heavily traveled channels shall constitute interference if unreasonable
under the prevailing circumstances.
(e) No motorboat, vessel, or seaplane shall be docked or made fast to any pier, wharf,
or other shore structure without the consent of the owner thereof, except in the case
of an emergency.