Skip to main content

Course Outline

Wisconsin DNR logo

Wisconsin DNR officers and all other peace officers enforce the boating laws of Wisconsin. USCG officers also patrol and have enforcement authority on federally controlled waters.

  • Officers have the right to stop and board vessels in order to check for compliance with state and federal laws.
  • It is illegal to refuse to follow the directive of a person with law enforcement authority. An operator who has received a visual or audible signal from a law enforcement officer must must reduce speed to “slow, no wake speed” and give way to the patrol boat.
  • A vessel operator must stop when requested or signaled to do so by a law enforcement officer or a patrol boat.
  • In addition to yielding and stopping for a law enforcement patrol boat when signaled to do so, it is required that you reduce speed to “slow, no wake speed” and stay at least 100 feet from a law enforcement patrol boat with its emergency lights activated when it is contacting another boat on the water. You create a safe environment for law enforcement officers and the boat occupants they are contacting when you do so.
  • Unit 4 of 5
  • Topic 10 of 10
  • Page 1 of 1