Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of
Boating
Unlawful Operation of a Vessel
Tennessee law states that it is unlawful to operate a watercraft in a reckless, negligent, or dangerous manner. Violations are punishable by a fine of up to $2,500 and up to six months in jail. Specifically, the following operating practices are illegal.
Reckless Operation of a vessel is any act that endangers the life, limb, or property of another person. Examples of illegal, reckless operation are:
- Operating a vessel in a swimming area
- Weaving your vessel through congested waterway traffic
- Steering toward another object or person in the water and swerving at the last possible moment in order to avoid collision or spray others nearby
- Jumping the wake of another vessel in a way that endangers another’s life, safety, or property
- Chasing, harassing, or disturbing wildlife with your vessel
Improper Speed or Distance is not maintaining a proper speed and distance while operating a vessel. Specifically, it is illegal to:
- Operate at an excessive rate of speed in crowded or dangerous areas or during periods of restricted visibility.
- Operate a vessel at greater than “slow, no wake speed” in any areas marked as “No Wake.”
- Operate within 300 feet of a commercial vessel dock at greater than “idle speed.”
- Jump the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that vessel.
 Riding
on the Bow, Gunwales or
Transom is allowing passengers to ride on a vessel in places where there may be a chance of falling overboard while underway at greater than idle speed.
Unsafe Conditions is operating a vessel in a condition that causes a hazard to the occupants or others on the waterways. For any of these problems, an enforcement officer may instruct the operator to immediately take corrective action or return to the nearest mooring.
- There are insufficient personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers, backfire flame arrestors, ventilation, or navigation lights.
- The vessel is overloaded or overpowered.
- Any other unsafe condition exists.
Boating Near Dams—Beware!
A large volume of water can be discharged through hydroelectric dams at any time without warning. For example, when the demand for electricity is high, the turbines that generate electricity at a dam may start automatically, resulting in a significant increase in the flow of water within only a matter of seconds. Similarly, river operations for flood control can create rapidly rising water levels in otherwise shallow riverbeds, especially below tributary dams that are usually located in steep terrain.
The cold water released through tributary dams even during the summer also may be a hazard, even during the summer. Cold-water temperatures can cause shock and hypothermia.
- Take special precautions when fishing below a dam by boat. The water can boil up suddenly, trapping or capsizing unprepared boaters. Always wear a personal flotation device and leave the motor running—even if drift fishing.
- Never anchor your boat in the area below a dam. Never anchor your boat from the stern. A sudden surge of water can pull a boat under and sink it before you have a chance to pull up the anchor and move to safety.
- Move to a safer area immediately if a siren sounds or strobe lights flash at dams equipped with these warning devices.
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