It's the Law: Before Going Out

IC 14-15-11-1
"Bureau" defined

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "bureau" refers to the bureau of motor vehicles established by IC 9-14-1-1.

As added by P.L.57-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-11-3
"Driver's license" defined

Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "driver's license" means:

1. an Indiana driver's license; or
2. a license to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of a jurisdiction other than Indiana.

As added by P.L.57-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-11-4
"Indiana driver's license" defined

Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "Indiana driver's license" means:

1. an operator's license;
2. a chauffeur's license; or
3. a public passenger chauffeur's license; that is issued to an individual by the bureau of motor vehicles under IC 9-24-3.

As added by P.L.57-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-11-5
"Individual" defined

Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "individual" means an individual human being.

As added by P.L.57-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-11-6
"Motorboat" defined

Sec. 6. (a) As used in this chapter, "motorboat" means a watercraft that is:

1. equipped with an internal combustion, a steam, or an electrical motor or engine that is inboard or outboard; or
2. propelled by any mechanical means.
   (b) The term includes a personal watercraft.
   (c) The term includes a sailboat that is equipped with a motor or an engine described in subsection (a)(1) when in operation, whether or not the sails are hoisted.
   (d) The term does not include a boat that is propelled by only one (1) motor or engine if the motor or engine is rated at not more than ten (10) horsepower.

As added by P.L.57-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-11-7/IC 14-8-2-202.5
"Personal watercraft" defined

Sec. 202.5. "Personal watercraft", for purposes of IC 14-15, means a watercraft:

1. whose primary source of motive power is an inboard motor powering a water jet pump; and
2. that is designed to be operated by a person who sits, stands, or kneels on the surface of the watercraft rather than sitting or standing inside the watercraft.

As added by P.L.57-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-11-8/IC 14-8-2-226
"Public waters" defined

Sec. 226. "Public waters", for purposes of IC 14-15, means every lake, river, stream, canal, ditch, and body of water that is:

1. subject to the jurisdiction of the state; or
2. owned or controlled by a public utility.

As added by P.L.57-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-11-9
License requirements

Sec. 9. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), an individual may not operate a motorboat on public waters unless the individual holds a valid driver's license.

(b) An individual who is at least fifteen (15) years of age and who does not hold a valid driver's license may operate a motorboat on public waters if the individual:

1. has been issued an identification card by the bureau under IC 9-24-16; and
2. has successfully completed a boating education course approved by the department for the purposes of this chapter.

(c) An individual who:

1. is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; and
2. does not hold:
   1. a valid driver's license; or
   2. a driver's license that is suspended or revoked; may operate a motorboat on public waters if the individual is issued an identification card by the bureau under IC 9-24-16 before January 1, 1996.

As added by P.L.57-1995, SEC.8.

IC 14-15-11-10
Knowing or intentional violations

Sec. 10. (a) Except as provided in section 11 of this chapter, an individual who knowingly or intentionally operates a motorboat on public waters in violation of section 9 of this chapter commits a Class C infraction.

(b) In a proceeding to enforce this section, the burden is on the defendant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that, at the time of the alleged offense, the defendant held a valid driver's license or identification card.

As added by P.L.57-1995, SEC.8.