Click here to return home.
JetSmart™ Safety Handbook
Page 2 Read the Handbook Take the Test
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Links
Contact Us
U.S. map
Utah State Page

Back one page Return to the Table of Contents Forward one page

UTAH STATE SPECIFIC LAWS

(The Utah information may differ or add to topics taught in the PWCSafetySchool.com on-line course. Some topics may be duplicated for added emphasis.)

Utah's Boating Program aims to educate boaters about the laws and rules that promote public safety and protect our natural resources connected with boating activities in Utah. These efforts are funded through boat registration fees, a state tax on gasoline used in motorboats, and federal boating safety grants.

With an ever-increasing demand on Utah's limited number of lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, boaters have the responsibility to practice and advocate safe, courteous, and ethical use of our waterways. This responsibility includes learning and obeying the boating safety laws and rules, properly registering boats, being environmentally conscious, and sharing the waterways with boaters, swimmer, and anglers.

Recent surveys indicate that more than 80 percent of Utah's registered boat owners have not completed a boating safety course. This implies that a vast majority of Utah's boaters are unaware of basic safety issues such as understanding the Navigation Rules, which safety equipment to carry on board, and how old a person must be to operate a boat. Not only will successful completion of this course increase your knowledge and participation in boating safety, but it may also reduce the premiums you pay to insure your boat.

  1. AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THE UTAH BOATING ACT

    2. Any Utah State Park Ranger or other law enforcement officer has the authority to stop and board any vessel, whether the vessel is on water or land. If that officer determines the vessel is overloaded, unseaworthy, or the required safety equipment is not on board the vessel, that officer may prohibit the launching of the vessel or stop the vessel from operating.

    Jurisdiction of Utah's Boating Program:

    • The Utah Boating Act and Rules of the Board of Parks and Recreation pertain to any waters within the territorial limits of the State of Utah.

    Penalties associated with a violation of the Utah Boating Act or Rules of the Board of Parks and Recreation:

    • Unless otherwise specified, any person who is convicted of a provision or rule under the Utah Boating Act is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. A class B misdemeanor is punishable with a fine of $0 to $1,000 and/or 0 to 6 months in jail.


  2. ADDRESSING AND RESOLVING BOATING ISSUES IN UTAH

    3. A Boating Advisory Council, consisting of six members, has been appointed by the Board of Utah State Parks and Recreation, to represent boaters and others in boating matters. There is one member from each of the following interests: United States Coast Guard Auxiliary/United States Power Squadrons, sailing or non-powered craft users, wildlife and outdoor recreation associations, marine dealers, personal watercraft users, and river runners.

  3. DEFINITION OF A BOAT

    4. A boat is defined as every type of watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. In addition to traditional motor boats, vessels such as sailboats, personal watercraft (PWC), canoes, rafts, float tubes and "kick" boats are subject to Utah's boating laws and rules.

    A personal watercraft (PWC) is defined as a motorboat that is less than 16 feet in length, propelled by a water jet pump, and designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than sitting or standing inside the vessel.

  4. REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON BOARD A BOAT

    5. Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs):

    • Utah law requires that all boats have at least one Type I, II, III or V U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD of proper size, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible for each person aboard. Type V PFDs must be used according to the requirements listed on the label.


    • In Utah, Inflatable PFDs may not be used by persons boating on rivers, riding a PWC, being towed behind a vessel, or by children.


    • Boats 16 feet or more in length must carry at least one Type IV - Throwable Device, U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD, that is immediately accessible and within easy reach of the operator or passenger(s) on board.


    • Passengers 12 years of age or younger must wear a Type I, II, III or V U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD when the boat is in operation. Children do not have to wear PFDs while inside an enclosed cabin area of boats 19 feet or more in length.


    • Each person being towed on water skis, other towed devices, or operating or riding on a personal watercraft (PWC) must wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD.


    • On rivers, every person on board a boat must wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD. For persons older than 12 years of age, PFDs may be loosened or removed while on designated flat water river sections. Contact Utah State Parks and Recreation for a listing of designated flat water river sections in Utah.

    Navigation Lights:

    • All boats must display the required navigation lights while operating on Utah waters between sunset and sunrise.


    • A personal watercraft (PWC) may not be operated between sunset and sunrise, even if it is equipped with proper navigation lights.


    • A sailboat under motor power must display the required navigation lights for a motorboat.


    • A manually propelled vessel may exhibit the navigation lights required for a sailboat or have a flashlight or white light, ready at hand, to be displayed in sufficient time to prevent a collision.

    Whistle or Horn (sound producing device):

    • Boats from 16 feet to 40 feet long must have a whistle or horn capable of producing a four-to-six second blast of sound.


    • Boats 40 feet and longer must have a horn and a bell.


    • A whistle or horn is strongly recommended for boats less than 16 feet in length.

    Bailing Device:

    • All boats that are not self-bailing must have a bail bucket or mechanical means (hand pump, etc) for pumping water from the bilge.

    Spare Propulsion:

    • Vessels less than 21 feet long must have on board, at least one spare motor, paddle, or oar capable of maneuvering the vessel when necessary.


    • On rivers, when one-or-two-man capacity vessels less than 16 feet long are traveling in a group, this requirement may be met by carrying one spare paddle or oar for every three vessels in the group.


    • On hard hulled white water kayaks, paddles designed to be strapped to or worn on the hand meet this requirement.

    Mufflers:

    • All motorboats must be equipped with a muffler system in good working order. The muffler system must be in constant operation to so as to prevent excessive engine noise.


    • It is illegal for a motorboat to exceed a noise level of 90 decibels (if manufactured before January 1, 1993) or 88 decibels (if manufactured on or after January 1, 1993) with the measurement taken three feet three inches (one meter) to the rear of the boat when the motor is idling. A motorboat may not be operated in a manner that will cause it to emit more than 75 decibels of noise at the shoreline.


    • It is illegal for a person to remove, alter or otherwise modify in any way a muffler or muffler system on a motorboat, in a manner that will prevent the motorboat from complying with the sound requirements listed above.


    • It is illegal to manufacture, sell or offer for sale any motorboat that is not equipped with a muffler or muffling system, or does not meet the sound requirements listed above.

    Marine Toilets:

    • It is illegal to deposit human waste, whether treated or untreated, into Utah's waters or on lands adjacent to these waters. Marine toilets must be emptied at dockside or at other approved sanitation facilities.

    Other Equipment Suggestions:

    • Boat owners are advised to carry a flashlight, first aid kit, boarding ladder, tool kit, extra line (rope), spare spark plugs, spare bilge plugs, spare propellers, anchor, visual distress signals, additional PFDs, spare bailing bucket, VHF marine band radio, and a copy of the Navigation Rules.


  5. UTAH REQUIREMENTS TO OPERATE A BOAT

    6. Reckless Boating:

    • No person may operate any vessel, or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane, or similar device in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

    Negligent Operation of a Boat by a Minor:

    • The owner of a vessel is liable for any injury or damage caused by the negligent operation of his vessel by a minor under 18 years of age when operating his vessel with the express or implied consent of the owner.

    Utah Law Regarding Boating Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs:

    • Utah law prohibits a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs to operate a boat. Utah's legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level is .08 grams per liter.


    • Conviction of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) may result in the loss of your motor vehicle driver license, a fine, mandatory jail sentence, community service work, and rehabilitation assessment.


    • A person under age 21 may not operate a motorboat with any measurable amount of alcohol in his body.


    • A person operating a boat on Utah waters is considered to have given consent to take any chemical test requested by a peace officer who feels the person has been operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.


    • Refusal to take a chemical test is admissible in any civil or criminal action or proceeding, and may result in the loss of you motor vehicle driver license.


    • The arresting officer can seize and impound the offender's boat, trailer and tow vehicle.


    • A person may not authorize or knowingly permit a vessel owned by him, or that is under his control, to be operated by a person who is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.


    • The operator of a motorboat may not have an open container of an alcoholic beverage while the boat is in operation.

    Utah Speed Limit on the Water:

    • Utah's "Speed and Proximity" Navigation and Steering Law states that a wakeless (idle) speed is required within 150 feet of another boat, a person in or floating on the water, a water skier (except those you are towing), a shore angler, a launch ramp, a dock, or a designated swimming area.


    • A wakeless (idle) speed means an operating speed at which the vessel does not create or make a wake or white water trailing the vessel. This speed is not to be in excess of five (5) miles per hour.


    • As a boat operator, you are responsible for any injury or damage caused by your boat's wake.

    Age a Person Must Be To Operate a Motorboat or Sailboat:

    May be operated by a person 16 years old or older.

    May be operated by a person under 16 years of age only when accompanied and directly supervised by a responsible person who is at least 18 of age or older.

    Personal Watercraft (PWC):

    May be operated by a person who is 18 years old or older.

    May be operated by a person 16 through 17 years of age if the operator has successfully completed a boater education course approved by Utah State Parks and Recreation and has in their possession the valid certificate issued by the course provider.

    May be operated by a person 12 through 15 years of age provided the operator has successfully completed a Utah State Parks and Recreation approved boating education course, and has in their possession the valid certificate issued by the course provider, The operator must also be under the direct supervision of a responsible person who is 18 years old or older.

    A person less than 18 years of age who does not meet the above requirements must be accompanied on board and be under the supervision of a responsible person who is at least 18 years old.

    By Utah State law, "direct supervision" means oversight at a distance within which visual contact is maintained.

    Personal Watercraft (PWC) Insurance Requirements:

    • All PWC must carry proof of liability insurance while in operation on Utah waters. The minimum liability insurance requirements are $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury/death, $15,000 property damage, and/or a combined $65,000 per accident.


    • Non-resident owners are exempt if the PWC is in Utah for less than 90 days a year, unless their home state also requires insurance coverage.


    • Utah State Parks and Recreation recommends all boat owners to carry liability insurance for their boats.

    Requirements When Towing a Person(s) Behind a Boat:

    • Boat operators must maintain a proper look out and a safe course of travel when towing a person on water skis or other devices.


    • In addition to the operator, an observer who is at least eight years of age, must be on board to watch and communicate with the skier.


    • The observer must display an international orange flag, at least 12 inches square, when the skier is down in the water.


    • Water skis and other towed devices may be used only between sunrise and sunset.


    • All persons being towed behind a vessel must wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD.


    • You must have room on board your boat, within the boat's maximum persons capacity, for any person(s) being towed behind the boat.

    Riding on the Bow or Other Exterior Parts of a Boat:

    • No one may operate a motorboat above a wakeless (idle) speed with passengers or operator sitting on seat backs, bow decking, gunwales, transom, or motor cover unless there are adequate rails that would prevent a person from falling overboard.


    • Passengers may not ride on the bow, except in designed seats of motorboats less than 16 feet long when operating above a wakeless (idle) speed.


    • Passengers may ride on the bow of a boat 16 feet or longer, except on Lake Powell, if they straddle an upright support on the rail without blocking the operator's view.

    Boat Capacity:

    • It is illegal to load or power your boat in excess of the maximum capacity information stated on the United States Coast Guard capacity label or in the manufacturer's owners manual for the vessel. This includes a total weight of persons, motor, and gear, or the total number persons on board.

    Diving and Snorkeling Requirements in Utah:

    • Divers are required to display a red flag with a white diagonal stripe, a divers down flag, in the immediate area in which they are diving. An "A" or "Alpha" flag may also be used, which typically designates a vessel engaged in diving activities.


    • Boaters not engaged in diving activities must stay at least 150 feet away from either flag.


  6. ACTIONS NECESSARY WHEN THERE IS A BOATING ACCIDENT

    7. If you are involved in a boating accident:

    1. Help other people involved in the accident.


    2. Notify local law enforcement officers immediately by the quickest means of communication available in the event anyone involved dies, disappears, requires treatment beyond first aid, or if combined property damage exceeds $2,000.


    3. Give your name, address and identification to any injured person or owner of property that is damaged in the accident.


    4. Submit a completed and signed boating accident report to Utah State Parks and Recreation within 10 days.


    Boating accident report forms are available from Utah State Parks and Recreation, any boating ranger, or by visiting www.stateparks.utah.gov on the Internet. Information in accident reports is confidential.

  7. BOATS REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED AND NUMBERED

    8. Sailboats and any vessel equipped with a motor, whether gas or battery powered, must be registered and numbered, unless exempt as noted below.

    Boats owned by Utah residents but registered out-of-state must be registered in Utah, if they are used on Utah waters.

    Boats exempt from Utah registration include sailboards and properly registered motorboats and sailboats owned by residents of another state that have not been in Utah more than 14 days in a calendar year.

    Boats exempt from numbering include sailboards, U.S. Coast Guard documented vessels and numbered motorboats and sailboats owned by residents of another state that have not been in Utah more than 60 days in a calendar year.

    The annual registration fee is $10.00 plus a 50˘ search and rescue surcharge designated to go to your county of residence/registration. $2.00 of this registration fee is allocated to the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles for processing the vessel's registration. The remaining $8.00 is allocated to Utah State Parks and Recreation to fund Utah's Boating Program.

    When you register your boat, a registration card and two annual registration decals will be issued. The bow number assigned to each boat must be displayed with the registration decals on the boat as described below. The bow number stays with the boat as long as it remains registered in Utah.

    The registration card must be on board the boat for which it is issued and be available for inspection whenever the boat is in operation.

    Expiration Date of Boat Registrations:

    • Beginning January 1, 2004, boat registrations will expire annually at the end of the month in which they were first registered.


    • Owners who purchase a boat from a dealer may be issued a 30-day temporary registration certificate by that dealer.


    • Boat owners must notify the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles of any change of ownership or address within 15 days of the change. The sale, transfer, destruction or abandonment of a motorboat or sailboat terminates its registration.


    • If you are required to register your boat trailer, the registration for the boat trailer may not have the same expiration date as your boat.

    Boat Titling:

    • The Utah Division of Motor Vehicles will issue titles for boats manufactured in 1985 or after. Boats that were built before 1985 will not be titled.


    • Boats with motors less than 25 horsepower will not be titled.

    Proper Display of Registration Decals and Bow Numbers:

    • The bow number must be painted or permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the boat.


    • The numbers must be plain, vertical block characters at least three inches in height that read from left to right. They must contrast with the background color of the hull and be distinctly visible and legible. Spaces or hyphens, equal to the width of a letter, must separate the letter and numeral groupings.


    • The bow number consists of the prefix letters UT, four numerals and two suffix letters. For example: UT 1234 AA or UT-1234-AA.


    • The annual registration decals must be displayed three inches aft of the bow number on each side of the boat. Only current year decals may be displayed.


    • On boats where the placement of the bow number and registration decals on the hull or superstructure would not be visible or where the type of hull material used would make it impractical to attach the bow number and registration decals, the bow number and registration decals may be mounted on a backing plate and displayed as described above.


  8. ADDITIONAL SAFETY AND COURTESY TIPS

    9. Swimming in launching, docking, mooring, or harbor areas is dangerous and prohibited. "No Swimming" areas are designated for your protection. Swimming from an unanchored boat can create a dangerous situation unless one person remains on board to operate the boat. Wind can cause the boat to drift, leaving swimmers stranded in the water.

    Courtesy Docks are for your convenience. Be courteous to other boaters by leaving your boat there no longer than 15 minutes.

    Boat Ramps are for launching and retrieving only. Vehicles should be parked in designated parking areas and never left unattended on the launch ramp. Be ready to launch your boat before moving onto the ramp. Complete your launch quickly. When retrieving your boat, pull it away from the ramp before wiping it down and securing it for extended travel.

    Emergency Situations require advance planning. Think about what to do if someone falls overboard or if there is a fire, breakdown or collision. Practice putting on your PFD in the water. Practice throwing a Type IV PFD to a person in the water. Learn various distress signals such as slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering your outstretched arms. If your boat capsizes, it will usually float. Put on a PFD and stay with the boat for additional flotation and so you can easily be seen for a quick rescue.

  9. COMMERCIAL BOATING ACTIVITIES

    10. Contact Utah State Parks and Recreation for specific boating laws and rules regarding carrying passengers for hire (guiding), operating a boat livery (boat rental company), or marine dealer registrations (sales demonstrations).

For boat registration and titling information, contact:

Utah Division of Motor Vehicles
210 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84134
801-297-7781
800-368-8824
Back one page Return to the Table of Contents Forward one page

Utah State page | Read the Safety Handbook | Take the Test

Home | FAQs | Related Links | Contact Us | U.S. Map

For demonstration purposes only, © all rights reserved.