The text
Footnotes:
--- (3) --- Editor's note— Ch. 1054, § 1, adopted Aug. 20, 2018, amended Art. III in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Art. III, §§ 82-86—82-94, pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ch. 1028, § 1, 10-3-2016.
State Law reference— Regulation of boats, G.L. 1956, § 46-22-1 et seq.; local regulation of boats, G.L. 1956, § 46-22-14; reckless operation of boats, G.L. 1956, § 46-22-9; powers conferred on Town of Narragansett to regulate boats in the public waters, G.L. § 46-4-6.8; definitions, G.L. 1956, § 46-22-2; reinforcement of the Town's commitment to the boat sewage laws, G.L. 1956, § 46-12-39 through 41.
Sec. 82-86. - Definitions.#
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Motorboat means any vessel propelled, in whole or in part, by mechanical means, either inboard or outboard, and using a motor powered by gasoline, diesel fuel, naphtha, kerosene, steam or fuel oil.
Water means all lakes, rivers, streams, ponds or other bodies of water located within or partly within the boundaries of the town.
(Ch. 1054, § 1, 8-20-2018)
Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 82-87. - Operation from beach or near bathing areas.#
(a)
It shall be unlawful for any motorboat or other watercraft while being operated upon waters within the boundaries of the town to pass closer than a reasonable distance to a public bathing area on the shores of the waters of the town.
(b)
No boat or other personal watercraft shall operate from the town beach.
(Ch. 1054, § 1, 8-20-2018)
Sec. 82-88. - Reckless operation.#
It shall be unlawful for any motorboat or other watercraft upon the waters within the boundaries of the town to be operated in a reckless or negligent fashion upon the waters within the boundaries of the town either as to speed or conduct of operations.
(Ch. 1054, § 1, 8-20-2018)
Sec. 82-89. - Passing near other vessels.#
Motorboat or other watercraft operators shall use due and reasonable care in passing close to or near other vessels and shall slow to a reasonable and safe speed when passing rowboats, canoes, kayaks, sailboats or other vessels not propelled by mechanical means.
(Ch. 1054, § 1, 8-20-2018)
Sec. 82-90. - Police directions.#
Motorboat operators shall obey lawful directions given to them by the harbormaster or by any police officer of the town in enforcement of the provisions of this article, and shall immediately, upon being instructed by any police officer or harbormaster of the town, comply with such lawful directions.
(Ch. 1054, § 1, 8-20-2018)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 46-22-173.
Sec. 82-91. - Speed limit in certain areas.#
(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any boat or vessel, other than a vessel operated by any branch of the United States government, in the entrance to or within the harbor at Point Judith within the town between a line running east to west drawn across the breachway 200 feet north of the southerly end of the easterly bulkhead of the breachway to Point Judith Pond, and a line drawn across Point Judith Harbor running east to west from the northerly side of the state pier on the Galilee side to the northerly side of the state pier on the Jerusalem side, at a speed in excess of five miles per hour or so as to create a wake.
(b)
A speed in excess of five miles per hour and/or the creation of a wake is prohibited in the following areas: within 100 feet of any bridge, dock, marina, boat ramp or posted bathing area, and within the area along the dunes at the eastern end of Narrow River, until the river turns to the east towards the ocean.
(Ch. 1054, § 1, 8-20-2018)
State Law reference— Regulation of public waters, G.L. 1956, § 46-4-6-8.
Sec. 82-92. - Violations; fines.#
(a)
Enumeration. The following violations and the payment of fines may be handled administratively through the method provided for in section 18-30 of this Code. The schedule of violations is as follows:
Violations Schedule (See clerk's office for most up to date fines; ordinance in clerk's office takes precedence over table shown below). Section of Code Violation Fine
82-1 Diving from bridges $100.00
82-2 Throwing debris from bridges $100.00
82-87 Operation near bathing area $100.00
82-88 Reckless operation $100.00
82-89 Passing near other vessels reasonable care $100.00
82-90 Police directions $100.00
82-91 Speed limit in certain areas $100.00
82-93 Flotation devices $100.00
82.94 Regulation of PWC $100.00
82-161 Vessel speed $100.00
82-162 Vessel operation $100.00
82-164 Obstruction of channels $100.00
82-165 Swimming in channel $100.00
82-166 Fishing in channel $100.00
82-173 Boat standards $100.00
82-178 Transient anchoring and anchorages $100.00
82-179 Failure to stop $100.00
(b)
Failure to act. If the offender does not pay the fine as specified in subsection (a) of this section, the offender shall have waived his rights to dispose of the offense by mail, and a notice shall be issued against the offender for his personal appearance before the municipal court on a date set by the harbormaster or his designee for the disposition of the offense.
(Ch. 1054, § 1, 8-20-2018)
State Law reference— Authority to regulate boats, G.L. 1956, § 46-4-6.8.
Sec. 82-93. - Flotation devices—Children.#
Any person transporting a child under 13 years of age in a vessel less than 26 feet in length on the waters of the Town of Narragansett shall require that the child wear a personal flotation device approved by the United States Coast Guard.
(Ch. 1054, § 1, 8-20-2018)
Sec. 82-94. - Regulation of personal watercraft.#
(a)
A person may not operate a personal watercraft at any time between the hours of one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
(b)
No person under the age of 16 shall operate a personal watercraft on the waters of the town unless an adult accompanies him or her or unless he or she has passed a department of environmental management approved or United States Coast Guard approved boating safety course.
(Ch. 1054, § 1, 8-20-2018)