CHAPTER 2. WATERCRAFT EQUIPMENT
IC 14-15-2
Chapter 2. Watercraft Equipment
IC 14-15-2-1
Unlawful operation without proper equipment
Sec. 1. A person may not operate a motorboat upon public waterif the motorboat is not equipped with the equipment required by thischapter. The equipment must be:
(1) in good repair and operating condition; and
(2) ready for use;
at all times.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-2
Bilge ventilators
Sec. 2. The following must be equipped with at least two (2) bilgeventilators fitted with cowls, or the equivalent, and designed andconstructed to permit the safe diffusion into the air of allinflammable or explosive gases:
(1) An inboard motorboat that uses motor fuel having a flashpoint of not more than one hundred ten degrees (110°)Fahrenheit, as determined by a tagliabue or equivalent closedcup test device.
(2) The greater part of the bilge of a motorboat that is not at alltimes open and exposed to the air.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-3
Carburetor backfire arrest device
Sec. 3. The carburetor on an inboard motorboat must be equippedwith a stock factory device:
(1) designed and constructed to arrest backfire; and
(2) of a make or type approved by the United States CoastGuard.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-4
Mufflers; underwater exhaust
Sec. 4. (a) This section does not apply to a motorboat competingin and during a motorboat race for which a permit has been issued bythe department.
(b) A person may not operate a motorboat on Indiana water unlessthe boat motor is equipped with:
(1) a muffler;
(2) an underwater exhaust; or
(3) other device;
that muffles or suppresses the sound of the exhaust to preventexcessive and unusual noise at all speeds.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-5
Muffler cutouts; bypass
Sec. 5. (a) This section does not apply to a motorboat competingin and during a motorboat race for which a permit has been issued bythe department.
(b) A person may not operate a motorboat on Indiana water if theboat motor is equipped with any of the following:
(1) A muffler cutout.
(2) A bypass.
(3) Any device similar to a muffler cutout or bypass.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-6
Personal flotation devices
Sec. 6. (a) This section does not apply to the following:
(1) A sailboard or windsurfing board.
(2) A manually propelled boat, such as a racing shell, rowingscull, or racing kayak:
(A) that is recognized by national or international racingassociations for use in competitive racing;
(B) in which all occupants row, scull, or paddle, with theexception of a coxswain if a coxswain is provided; and
(C) that is designed to carry and carries equipment only forcompetitive racing.
(b) All boats must be equipped with the number and type ofpersonal flotation devices listed in this subsection. A person may notoperate a boat unless the boat contains:
(1) for each person on board, one (1) personal flotation devicethat meets the requirements for designation by the United StatesCoast Guard as a Type I, Type II, Type III, or Type V personalflotation device; and
(2) for a boat, except a canoe or kayak, at least sixteen (16) feetin length and in addition to the requirements of subdivision (1),one (1) personal flotation device that meets the requirements fordesignation by the United States Coast Guard as a Type IVpersonal flotation device.
(c) The director may waive the requirements of this section for aboat during competition in a boat race for which a permit has beenissued by the department if the following conditions are met:
(1) The sponsor of the boat race has informed the director of theprecautions the sponsor will take to minimize the safety hazardsthat exist due to noncompliance with the requirements of thissection.
(2) The sponsor files with the director a document under whichthe sponsor assumes all liability that may result from the use ofa boat under the waiver.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.38-2000, SEC.2;P.L.24-2001, SEC.1.
IC 14-15-2-7 Holding tanks; sewage disposal
Sec. 7. (a) As used in this section, "sewage" means human bodywastes.
(b) A person may not keep, maintain, or operate upon public watera boat that is equipped with a water closet or toilet unless the watercloset or toilet is equipped with a holding tank with the capacity tostore wastes for subsequent disposal at:
(1) an approved shoreside facility or incinerator; or
(2) a treatment system approved by the department ofenvironmental management according to rules adopted by thesolid waste management board or the water pollution controlboard.
(c) A person may not dispose of sewage accumulated in a holdingtank or any other container on a watercraft in a manner that thesewage reaches or may reach public waters, except through a sewagedisposal facility approved by the department of environmentalmanagement according to rules adopted by:
(1) the solid waste management board; or
(2) the water pollution control board.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-8
Littering
Sec. 8. (a) As used in this section, "litter" means bottles, glass,crockery, cans, scrap metal, junk, paper, garbage, rubbish, plastic, orsimilar refuse.
(b) In the operation or use of watercraft, a person may not throw,dump, place, deposit, or cause or permit to be thrown, dumped,placed, or deposited:
(1) any litter, filth, or putrid or unwholesome substance; or
(2) the contents of a water closet or toilet, catch basin, or greasetrap;
in or upon public water or the banks of public water.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-9
Gas or flammable liquids
Sec. 9. (a) This section does not apply to motor fuel or fuel usedin pocket cigarette, cigar, or pipe lighters.
(b) A person may not carry in a boat that is:
(1) kept, maintained, or operated upon public water; and
(2) used to carry passengers for hire;
gas, liquefied gas, or an inflammable liquid capable of being used forcooking, heating, or lighting.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-10
Lights
Sec. 10. A person may not operate a boat upon public waterduring the period between sunset and sunrise that is not equipped
with a light required by this chapter. The light must be:
(1) in good repair and operating condition; and
(2) displayed and lighted or burning except as otherwisepermitted.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-11
White light aft
Sec. 11. Motorboats and auxiliary sailboats must be equipped withat least one (1) white light aft, casting a light visible three hundredsixty degrees (360°) for a distance of at least two (2) miles, under thefollowing conditions:
(1) Except as provided in section 13 of this chapter, motorboatsand auxiliary sailboats, whether under power and sail or poweralone, must display one (1) of the following:
(A) An all-round white light aft.
(B) A combination of one (1) stern light visible through anarc of twelve (12) points or one hundred thirty-five degrees(135°) to the stern and at least one (1) masthead light visibletwenty (20) points or two hundred twenty-five degrees(225°) so as to complete the white light arc over the horizon.
(2) Sailboats more than twenty-two (22) feet in length andoperating under sail alone must display one (1) of thefollowing:
(A) An all-round white light aft visible three hundred sixtydegrees (360°).
(B) A white stern light visible through an arc of twelve (12)points or one hundred thirty-five degrees (135°) to the stern.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-12
Combination starboard and port lights
Sec. 12. All:
(1) motorboats and auxiliary sailboats equipped with a motor orengine rated at least fifteen (15) horsepower; and
(2) sailboats more than twenty-two (22) feet in length;
must be equipped with combination lights forward showing green tostarboard and red to port visible for a distance of at least one (1) mileand affixed or attached so as to throw light from dead ahead to two(2) points abaft the beam of the respective sides. The lights shall beaffixed or attached to the bow of the boat, except that sailboatsoperating under sail alone may combine the red and green lights withthe stern light at the uppermost point of the mast.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-13
Hand lanterns or flashlights
Sec. 13. (a) This section applies to the following:
(1) Nonpowered boats including canoes and kayaks.
(2) Sailboats not more than twenty-two (22) feet in length under
sail alone.
(3) Boats powered only by electric motor on lakes restricted topropulsion solely by oars, paddles, or electric motors.
(4) Any boat using an electric motor for positioning purposesonly.
(b) A boat must be equipped with a hand portable lantern orflashlight not affixed or attached to any part of the boat and capableof throwing a white light visible for a distance of at least two (2)miles. The operator of the boat shall display the same or the whitelight aft, if available, in sufficient time to avoid a collision with anyother boat that is being operated in accordance with this article.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-14
Pontoon boat lights
Sec. 14. All flat bottomed boats supported by floats, commonlycalled pontoon boats, must display a fixed combination red and greenlight forward and a fixed white light aft, according to standardsprescribed by the department.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8.
IC 14-15-2-15
Violations
Sec. 15. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person whoviolates this chapter commits a Class C infraction.
(b) A person who violates section 7(c) or 8 of this chaptercommits a Class A infraction. Notwithstanding IC 34-28-5-4(a), ajudgment of at least one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be imposedfor each Class A infraction committed in violation of section 7(c) or8 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.137-2007, SEC.32.