Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 268 - Boating
Section 15-131. - Rules for preventing collisions.

The rules prescribed by this section for preventing collisions shall govern the operation of all vessels on state and federal waters. In construing the provisions of this section, risk of collision shall be deemed to exist when the compass bearing between approaching vessels does not appreciably change.

(1) When vessels approach each other end on, or nearly so, each shall pass on the port side of the other, except that, if the courses of such vessels are so far to the starboard of each other as not to be considered approaching end on and altering course would create a hazard, each shall keep out of the way of the other and pass on the starboard side of the other.
(2) When vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other, except that in such a situation a motorboat shall keep out of the way of a sailboat.
(3) When sailboats are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other as follows: (A) A sailboat running free shall keep out of the way of a sailboat which is close-hauled. (B) A sailboat which is close-hauled on the port tack shall keep out of the way of a sailboat which is close-hauled on the starboard tack. (C) When two sailboats are running free with the wind on different sides, the sailboat which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other. (D) When two sailboats are running free with the wind on the same side, the sailboat which is to the windward shall keep out of the way of the other.
(4) Every vessel overtaking another vessel shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel. Any person operating a vessel shall not follow another vessel more closely than is reasonable and prudent and shall have regard for prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to not create a risk of collision.
(5) Every vessel which is required by these rules to keep out of the way of another vessel, on approaching such other vessel, shall slacken speed, stop, reverse or alter course as necessary and, as circumstances permit, avoid crossing ahead of or hazarding the other vessel. The other vessel shall maintain her course and speed.
(6) In obeying and construing these rules, regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and any special circumstances which may render a departure from these rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger. For the purposes of this subsection, following too closely to avoid collision with another vessel shall be considered a violation.
(7) The operator of a vessel shall at all times maintain a proper lookout required by the ordinary practice of seamen and by the special circumstances of the case.
(8) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
(1961, P.A. 520, S. 11; P.A. 76-381, S. 22; P.A. 94-188, S. 13; P.A. 99-219, S. 1, 3.)
History: P.A. 76-381 added Subsec. (h) making violation an infraction; P.A. 94-188 changed Subsecs. (a) to (h), inclusive, to Subdivs. (1) to (8), inclusive, and in the new Subdiv. (3), changed the Subdivs. to Subparas; P.A. 99-219 made section applicable to federal waters and added provisions in Subdivs. (4) and (6) re following too closely to avoid collision, effective July 1, 1999.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 15 - Navigation and Aeronautics

Chapter 268 - Boating

Section 15-121. - Administrative procedure.

Section 15-122 and 15-123. - Appointment and organization of commission. Director; employees.

Section 15-124. - Investigations. Hearings.

Section 15-125. - Appeal from action of Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.

Section 15-126. - Determination of validity of regulations.

Section 15-127. - Definitions.

Section 15-128. - Lights.

Section 15-129. - Safety and equipment requirements for vessels. Regulation of motorboat noise.

Section 15-129a. - Required and authorized lights.

Section 15-130. - Modification or suspension of requirements.

Section 15-130a. - Powers of officers re vessel in unsafe condition.

Section 15-131. - Rules for preventing collisions.

Section 15-132. - Procedure in case of collision or accident.

Section 15-132a. - Manslaughter in the second degree with a vessel.

Section 15-133. - Rules for safe operation. Operation of vessel while under the influence of liquor or drugs. Penalties. Records of conviction.

Section 15-133a. - Safety controls on the Housatonic River.

Section 15-133b. - Boating safety certificate for certain minors. Owners prohibited from permitting operation without certificate, when.

Section 15-133c. - When boating safety certificate required upon violation of safety rules.

Section 15-134. - Water skiing. Jumps and courses for skiers and vessels.

Section 15-135. - Position of scuba divers to be marked. Safe operating distance for vessels.

Section 15-136. - Ordinances and regulations.

Section 15-136a. - Compliance with certain engine size requirements.

Section 15-137. - Enforcement.

Section 15-138. - Publication of laws, regulations and ordinances.

Section 15-139. - Penalties.

Section 15-140. - Special acts and ordinances superseded.

Section 15-140a. - Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection as attorney for service of process on nonresident.

Section 15-140b. - Marine parades, regattas, races, tournaments or exhibitions. Warning devices. Penalty.

Section 15-140c. - Abandonment of vessel. Parties with standing. Abandoned vessel procedures. Online process. Hazardous waste designation. Violation; fine; exception.

Section 15-140d. - Obstruction to navigation or public use of waters prohibited. Remedies.

Section 15-140e. - Safe boating certificate. Safe water skiing endorsement.

Section 15-140f. - Courses in safe boating operation. Safe water skiing instruction. Regulations. Reciprocity.

Section 15-140g. - Safe boating certificate to be carried on board vessel. Penalty.

Section 15-140h. - Operation of vessel by person less than twelve years of age. Operation of vessel engaged in water skiing by person less than sixteen years of age.

Section 15-140i. - Suspension of certificate of boating operation. Regulations.

Section 15-140j. - Certificate of personal watercraft operation. Operation of personal watercraft with passengers. Operation of jetted articulated vessels. Regulations.

Section 15-140k. - Reckless operation of a vessel in the first degree.

Section 15-140l. - Reckless operation of a vessel in the first degree while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Section 15-140m. - Reckless operation of a vessel in the second degree.

Section 15-140n. - Reckless operation of a vessel in the second degree while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Section 15-140o. - Seizure of vessel.

Section 15-140p. - Fines deposited in Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.

Section 15-140q. - *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Consent for chemical analysis. Suspension of safe boating certificate. Procedures. Hearing on suspension. Penalties for conviction. Elevated blood alcohol content define...

Section 15-140r. - *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Evidence of alcohol or drugs in blood or urine.

Section 15-140s. - Seizure and admissibility of chemical analysis of blood or urine sample of injured operator.

Section 15-140t. - Immunity of person taking sample.

Section 15-140u. - Blood sample of body of deceased person.

Section 15-140v. - Reinstatement of safe boating certificate, right to operate vessel or certificate of personal watercraft operation. Regulations.

Section 15-141. - Definitions.

Section 15-142. - Vessel numbering requirements. Certain vessels required to display registration decals.

Section 15-143. - Exceptions to numbering and registration requirements.

Section 15-144. - Vessel registration number or registration decal. Schedule of fees payable to Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Regulations. Penalty.

Section 15-144a. - Provision of information re registrants to tax assessors.

Section 15-145. - Marine dealer's, marine engine manufacturer's and marine surveyor's registration numbers. Regulations. Fees. Availability and renewal of certificates. Use of vessels. Restrictions.

Section 15-145a. - Marine dealer's registration numbers for boat trailers.

Section 15-145b. - Operation of a vessel registered with a marine dealer registration number by holder of passenger-for-hire license and party or charter fishing vessel registration.

Section 15-146. - Notice of change of address.

Section 15-147. - Termination of certificate of number upon transfer, destruction or abandonment of vessel.

Section 15-148. - Duplicate certificate.

Section 15-149. - Accident reports.

Section 15-149a. - Reporting of accidents. Responsibilities of towboat operators.

Section 15-149b. - Reporting of accidents involving death, injury or disappearance. Report of interviews.

Section 15-150. - Rental of vessels. Boat livery requirements.

Section 15-150a. - Any facility mooring or storing vessels required to maintain record of vessels not registered in Connecticut.

Section 15-151. - Records of Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Remission and report of fees.

Section 15-152. - False statement, penalty.

Section 15-153. - Alteration or defacing of certificate of number or registration or alteration, removal or obliteration of number displayed on vessel.

Section 15-154. - Enforcement. Refusal to stop vessel or take vessel to designated area. Rules for avoiding interference with operation of law enforcement vessel or fire rescue vessel. Penalties.

Section 15-154a. - Town marine officers and auxiliaries.

Section 15-154b. - Violation on waters between towns.

Section 15-154c. - Attachment of property of town marine officer prohibited.

Section 15-155. - Distribution of revenue received in fees for numbering and registration of vessels. Boating account.

Section 15-155a and 15-155b. - Annual report of receipts from vessel registration fees and payments therefrom. State distribution of revenue from fees for vessel registration.

Section 15-155c. - Registration fees collected in 1982 exceeding amounts distributed to Boating Fund and towns to be allowed as credits against fees payable in 1983.

Section 15-155d and 15-155e. - Annual report re boating account. State distribution of revenue from fees for vessel registration.

Section 15-156. - Penalties. Operation of vessel while safe boating certificate or certificate of personal watercraft operation refused, suspended or revoked. Jurisdiction. Return of certificate to commissioner.

Section 15-157. - Special acts and ordinances superseded.

Section 15-170. - Discharge of sewage from vessels: Definitions.

Section 15-171. - Discharge within no discharge zone prohibited.

Section 15-172. - Provision of pump-out facilities.

Section 15-173. - Docking facility in violation of requirement or order deemed public nuisance. Civil and criminal penalties for violations.

Section 15-174. - Regulations.

Section 15-175. - Penalty for misuse of or failure to equip vessel with marine sanitation device.

Section 15-176. - Reasonable time for compliance with requirement or order.

Section 15-180. - Transporting vessel or trailer without inspecting for and properly removing and disposing of vegetation and aquatic invasive species. Penalty.