It's the Law: On the Water

In addition to the laws mentioned previously, here are some other Indiana regulations which apply when boat and PWC operators are on the water.

Unlawful Operation

Operating a boat or PWC in a manner that unnecessarily endangers a person or property of another person is considered dangerous. If you interfere with another person’s lawful use of public water or obstruct a legally permitted marine event, you also may be charged. Should you be ticketed by a law enforcement officer for one of the crimes listed below, you could have points assessed against your driver’s license.

• Examples of illegal and reckless operation are:
  • Operating a vessel at speeds that endanger human life, endanger human physical safety or property, or prevent stopping within an assured clear distance ahead. Be aware of and obey all regulatory markers, including those marked as “idle speed” or “slow, no wake speed.”
  • Operating a vessel at speeds of more than 10 miles per hour between sunset and sunrise (IC 14-15-3-8).
  • Weaving your vessel through congested waterway traffic or swerving at the last possible moment in order to avoid collision.
  • Jumping the wake of another vessel such that you endanger human life, human physical safety, or property.
  • Loading the vessel beyond the recommended capacity shown on the capacity plate installed by the vessel manufacturer.
  • Causing a hazardous wake or wash from your vessel (IC 14-15-3-15).
  • Boating in restricted areas without regard for other boaters or persons, posted speeds and wake restrictions, diver-down flags, etc (312 IAC 5).
  • Operating in a circular course around another vessel engaged in fishing or around a person swimming.
  • Operating within 150 feet of a diver-down flag unless assisting the diver (IC 14-15-9-5).
  • Allowing passengers to ride on the gunwale or, if the vessel is less than 21 feet in length, on the bow where they may fall overboard (IC 14-15-3-24).
• Lake and channel restrictions vary depending on the size of the body of water or the waterway. You may be restricted to "idle speed" anywhere from 50 to 200 feet from the shoreline, depending on the size of the lake or the width of the channel (IC 14-15-3-17).

“Idle Speed” or “Slow, No Wake Speed”   IC 14-8-2-129
These buoys or signs indicate a boating restricted area established to protect the safety of the public, ecological resources, and property. “Idle speed” means the slowest possible speed, not to exceed five miles per hour, so as to maintain steerage and produce minimal wake.