2006 Minnesota Statutes

86B.311 GENERAL RULES FOR OPERATION.
    Subdivision 1. Safe operation. A person may not operate or allow the operation of a
watercraft or use a device relating to the use of the watercraft:
(1) in a careless or heedless manner in disregard of the rights or safety of others;
(2) in a reckless or grossly negligent manner that causes personal injury to another or
damage to the property of another;
(3) upon the waters of this state without the equipment required by this chapter and the
rules adopted under this chapter; or
(4) that is loaded with passengers or cargo beyond the watercraft's safe carrying capacity or is
equipped with a motor or other propulsion machinery beyond the watercraft's safe power capacity.
    Subd. 2. Obstruction to navigation. A person may not operate a watercraft in a manner that
obstructs or tends to obstruct normal and ordinary navigation on the waters of this state.
    Subd. 3. Unauthorized mooring prohibited. A person may not moor, attach, or hold in any
manner a watercraft to a buoy or any other marking device or guide placed in the waters of this
state pursuant to lawful authority. This subdivision does not apply to a mooring buoy.
    Subd. 4. Swimming or bathing areas. A person may not operate a watercraft within a
water area that has been marked off or set aside as a swimming or bathing area as prescribed by
the commissioner's rules.
    Subd. 5. Riding on gunwales or decking. A person may not ride or sit and a person may not
operate a motorboat while a person is riding or sitting on (i) the starboard or port gunwales; (ii)
the decking over the bow, sides, or stern; or (iii) the transom, of a motorboat while underway
unless the motorboat is provided with adequate guards or railing to prevent passengers from
falling overboard.
History: 1990 c 391 art 9 s 14; 2002 c 323 s 1