Code of Virginia
Chapter 7 - Boating Laws
§ 29.1-738.03. Reckless operation of a personal watercraft

A person shall be guilty of reckless operation of a motorboat or vessel who operates any personal watercraft recklessly or at a speed or in such a manner so as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person, which shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Weaving through vessels which are underway, stopped, moored or at anchor while exceeding a reasonable speed under the circumstances and traffic conditions existing at the time;
2. Following another vessel or person on water skis or other similar device, crossing the path of another vessel, or jumping the wake of another vessel more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the speed of both vessels and the traffic on and the condition of the waters at the time;
3. Crossing between the towing vessel and a person on water skis or other device; or
4. Steering toward an object or person and turning sharply in close proximity to such object or person in order to spray or attempt to spray the object or person with the wash or jet spray of the personal watercraft.
A person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, and for a second or subsequent offense, the court shall order the person not to operate a personal watercraft which is underway upon the waters of the Commonwealth for a period of twelve months.
1998, c. 514.

Structure Code of Virginia

Code of Virginia

Title 29.1 - Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating

Chapter 7 - Boating Laws

§ 29.1-700. Definitions

§ 29.1-701. Department to administer chapter; Motorboat Committee; funds for administration; records; rules and regulations

§ 29.1-701.1. Authority of Board to set fees

§ 29.1-702. Registration requirements; display of numbers; cancellation of certificate; exemption

§ 29.1-702.1. Making false affidavit or swearing falsely, perjury; penalty

§ 29.1-703. Identification numbers required; decals

§ 29.1-703.1. Temporary registration certificate; fee; application

§ 29.1-703.2. Designation of agents; compensation to agents; deposit of temporary registration certificate moneys

§ 29.1-704. Recording previously awarded numbers

§ 29.1-705. Change of ownership of motorboat; lost certificates

§ 29.1-706. Agents awarding numbers

§ 29.1-707. Records

§ 29.1-708. Transfer, destruction or abandonment of motorboat

§ 29.1-709. Change of address of certificate holder

§ 29.1-710. Exemption from numbering requirements

§ 29.1-711. Dealers and manufacturers of motorboats

§ 29.1-712. Repealed

§ 29.1-733.2. Definitions

§ 29.1-733.3. Applicability

§ 29.1-733.4. Supplemental principles of law and equity

§ 29.1-733.5. Law governing watercraft covered by certificate of title

§ 29.1-733.6. Certificate of title required

§ 29.1-733.7. Application for certificate of title

§ 29.1-733.8. Creation and cancellation of certificate of title

§ 29.1-733.9. Content of certificate of title

§ 29.1-733.10. Title brand

§ 29.1-733.11. Maintenance of and access to files

§ 29.1-733.12. Action required on creation of certificate of title

§ 29.1-733.13. Effect of certificate of title

§ 29.1-733.14. Effect of possession of certificate of title; judicial process; levy; penalty

§ 29.1-733.15. Perfection of security interest

§ 29.1-733.16. Termination statement; delivery of certificate of title; penalty

§ 29.1-733.17. Transfer of ownership

§ 29.1-733.18. Effect of missing or incorrect information

§ 29.1-733.19. Transfer of ownership by secured party's transfer statement

§ 29.1-733.20. Transfer by operation of law

§ 29.1-733.21. Application for transfer of ownership or termination of security interest without certificate of title

§ 29.1-733.22. Replacement certificate of title

§ 29.1-733.23. Rights of purchaser other than secured party

§ 29.1-733.24. Rights of secured party

§ 29.1-733.25. Acquiring title to an abandoned watercraft

§ 29.1-733.26. Duties and operation of the Department

§ 29.1-733.27. Uniformity of application and construction

§ 29.1-733.28. Relationship to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act

§ 29.1-733.29. Savings clause

§ 29.1-734. Authorization for and placing of markers in waters of the Commonwealth used for public swimming areas; no motorboating, waterskiing in marked area

§ 29.1-734.1. Skin and scuba divers

§ 29.1-735. Regulations for vessel operation and equipment

§ 29.1-735.1. Board authorized to promulgate regulations for seaplanes

§ 29.1-735.2. Boating safety education required; Board to promulgate regulations

§ 29.1-735.3. Regulation of parasail operators

§ 29.1-736. Boat rentals; equipment; safety course

§ 29.1-737. Muffling devices

§ 29.1-738. Operating boat or manipulating water skis, etc., in reckless manner or while intoxicated, etc.

§ 29.1-738.01. Operating boat in an improper manner; penalty

§ 29.1-738.02. Persons under age twenty-one operating watercraft after illegally consuming alcohol; penalty

§ 29.1-738.03. Reckless operation of a personal watercraft

§ 29.1-738.1. Analysis of breath to determine alcohol content of blood

§ 29.1-738.2. Consent to blood or breath test

§ 29.1-738.3. Presumptions from alcohol or drug content

§ 29.1-738.4. Additional penalty for reckless or intoxicated operation of a watercraft or motorboat

§ 29.1-738.5. Participation in rehabilitation program

§ 29.1-738.6. When arrested person operating a vessel; how vessel removed from scene of arrest

§ 29.1-739. Duty of operator involved in collision, accident or other casualty; immunity from liability; report of collision, etc.; summons in lieu of arrest

§ 29.1-739.1. Disregarding signal by law-enforcement officer to stop; attempts to elude; penalty

§ 29.1-739.2. Conservation police officers to patrol lakes

§ 29.1-740. Duty to stop and render assistance; penalties for violations

§ 29.1-741. Furnishing information to agency of United States

§ 29.1-742. Towing water skis, surfboards, etc.

§ 29.1-743. Repealed

§ 29.1-744. Local regulation; application for placement or removal of "no wake" buoys, etc.

§ 29.1-744.1. Repealed

§ 29.1-744.2. Repealed

§ 29.1-744.3. Slacken speed and control wakes near structures

§ 29.1-744.4. "Pass-through" zones; local ordinances; penalties

§ 29.1-745. Enforcement of chapter; vessels displaying Coast Guard inspection decal

§ 29.1-746. Penalties

§ 29.1-747. Repealed

§ 29.1-748. Restrictions on operation; penalty

§ 29.1-748.1. Local ordinances; operation on lakes; minimum distance from shoreline; penalty

§ 29.1-749. Owner of personal watercraft permitting violation; penalty

§ 29.1-749.1. Identification of personal watercraft rentals

§ 29.1-749.2. Local regulation of personal watercraft rentals; penalty

§ 29.1-749.3. Personal watercraft instruction; rental agents

§ 29.1-750. Exemptions