Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 306 - Watercraft Regulation and Licensing — Water Patrol Division
Section 306.100 - Classification of vessels — equipment requirements.

Effective - 28 Aug 2018, 3 histories
306.100. Classification of vessels — equipment requirements. — 1. For the purpose of this section, vessels shall be divided into four classes as follows:
(1) Class A, less than sixteen feet in length;
(2) Class 1, at least sixteen and less than twenty-six feet in length;
(3) Class 2, at least twenty-six and less than forty feet in length;
(4) Class 3, forty feet and over.
2. All vessels shall display from sunset to sunrise the following lights when under way, and during such time no other lights, continuous spotlights or docking lights, or other nonprescribed lights shall be exhibited:
(1) Vessels of classes A and 1:
(a) A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon;
(b) A combined light in the forepart of the vessel and lower than the white light aft, showing green to starboard and red to port, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points (22 1/2 degrees) abaft the beam on their respective sides;
(2) Vessels of classes 2 and 3:
(a) A bright white light in the forepart of the vessel as near the stem as practicable, so constructed as to show the unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty points (225 degrees) of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light ten points (112 1/2 degrees) on each side of the vessel; namely, from right ahead to two points (22 1/2 degrees) abaft the beam on either side;
(b) A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon and higher than the white light forward;
(c) On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points (112 1/2 degrees) of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points (22 1/2 degrees) abaft the beam on the starboard side; on the port side a red light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points (112 1/2 degrees) of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points (22 1/2 degrees) abaft the beam on the portside. The side lights shall be fitted with inboard screens so set as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow;
(3) Vessels of classes A and 1 when propelled by sail alone shall exhibit the combined light prescribed by this section and a twelve point (135 degree) white light aft. Vessels of classes 2 and 3, when so propelled, shall exhibit the colored side lights, suitably screened, prescribed by this section and a twelve point (135 degree) white light aft;
(4) All vessels between the hours of sunset and sunrise that are not under way, moored at permanent dockage or attached to an immovable object on shore so that they do not extend more than fifty feet from the shore shall display one three-hundred-sixty-degree white light visible three hundred sixty degrees around the horizon;
(5) Every white light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least two miles. Every colored light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least one mile. The word "visible" in this subsection, when applied to lights, shall mean visible on a dark night with clear atmosphere;
(6) When propelled by sail and machinery every vessel shall carry the lights required by this section for a motorboat propelled by machinery only.
3. Any watercraft not defined as a vessel shall, from sunset to sunrise, carry, ready at hand, a lantern or flashlight showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to avert collision.
4. Any vessel may carry and exhibit the lights required by the federal regulations for preventing collisions at sea, in lieu of the lights required by subsection 2 of this section.
5. All other watercraft over sixty-five feet in length and those propelled solely by wind effect on the sail shall display lights prescribed by federal regulations.
6. Any watercraft used by a person engaged in the act of sport fishing is not required to display any lights required by this section if no other vessel is within the immediate vicinity of the first vessel, the vessel is using an electric trolling motor and the vessel is within fifty feet of the shore.
7. Every vessel, except those in class A, shall have on board at least one wearable personal flotation device of type I, II or III for each person on board and each person being towed who is not wearing one. Every such vessel shall also have on board at least one type IV throwable personal flotation device.
8. All class A motorboats and all watercraft traveling on the waters of this state shall have on board at least one type I, II, III or IV personal flotation device for each person on board and each person being towed who is not wearing one.
9. All lifesaving devices required by subsections 7 and 8 of this section shall be United States Coast Guard approved, in serviceable condition and so placed as to be readily accessible. The operator of any watercraft in violation of this subsection or subsection 7 or 8 of this section is guilty of an infraction and shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars. Notwithstanding any provision of law or court rule to the contrary, no court costs shall be imposed on any person due to a violation of this subsection or subsection 7 or 8 of this section.
10. Every vessel which is carrying or using flammable or toxic fluid in any enclosure for any purpose, and which is not an entirely open vessel, shall have an efficient natural or mechanical ventilation system which must be capable of removing resulting gases prior to and during the time the vessel is occupied by any person.
11. Motorboats shall carry on board at least the following United States Coast Guard approved fire extinguishers:
(1) Every class A and every class 1 motorboat carrying or using gasoline or any other flammable or toxic fluid, one B1 type fire extinguisher;
(2) Every class 2 motorboat:
(a) Two B1 type fire extinguishers; or
(b) One B2 type fire extinguisher; or
(c) A fixed fire extinguishing system and one B1 type fire extinguisher; and
(3) Every class 3 motorboat:
(a) Three B1 type fire extinguishers; or
(b) One B2 type and one B1 type fire extinguisher; or
(c) A fixed fire extinguishing system and one B2 type fire extinguisher; or
(d) A fixed fire extinguishing system and two B1 type fire extinguishers.
12. All class 1 and 2 motorboats and vessels shall have a sounding device. All class 3 motorboats and vessels shall have at least a sounding device and one bell.
13. No person shall operate any watercraft which is not equipped as required by this section.
14. A water patrol division officer may direct the operator of any watercraft being operated without sufficient personal flotation devices, fire-fighting devices or in an overloaded or other unsafe condition or manner to take whatever immediate and reasonable steps are necessary for the safety of those aboard when, in the judgment of the officer, such operation creates a hazardous condition. The officer may direct the operator to return the watercraft to the nearest safe mooring and to remain there until the situation creating the hazardous condition is corrected.
15. A water patrol division officer may remove any unmanned or unattended watercraft from the water when, in the judgment of the officer, the watercraft creates a hazardous condition.
16. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the use of additional specialized lighting used in the act of sport fishing.
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(L. 1959 S.B. 142 § 4, A.L. 1969 S.B. 194, A.L. 1977 H.B. 176, A.L. 1985 H.B. 280, et al., A.L. 1989 S.B. 135, A.L. 2008 H.B. 1715, A.L. 2015 H.B. 269 merged with S.B. 231, A.L. 2018 H.B. 2116)

Structure Missouri Revised Statutes

Missouri Revised Statutes

Title XIX - Motor Vehicles, Watercraft and Aviation

Chapter 306 - Watercraft Regulation and Licensing — Water Patrol Division

Section 306.010 - Definitions.

Section 306.015 - Vessels, registration, procedure, fee — delinquent application, penalty fee — failure to obtain certificate of title, effect of.

Section 306.016 - United States Coast Guard documented vessels, certificate of registration, requirements — fees and taxes — duration — temporary registration — termination — availability for inspection.

Section 306.020 - Vessels to be numbered — number, where displayed.

Section 306.030 - Certificate of number, application, procedure, contents, fee — numbers, how attached — numbers from federal or other state governments, reciprocity — permanent certificate, when — renewal of certificate, when, how — personal propert...

Section 306.031 - New or replacement identification number of motor or vessel — securing of number — penalty.

Section 306.035 - Certificate of title, form of.

Section 306.040 - Certified number only on boat.

Section 306.050 - Notice of change of address of certificate holder — procedure.

Section 306.060 - Transfer of ownership of boat, application, fee — temporary certificate of number, fee — contents — dealer issue, record required, contents, penalty.

Section 306.075 - Motorized amphibious vehicle, defined — treated as a vessel, not a motor vehicle, exceptions — license required.

Section 306.080 - Vessels exempt from numbering requirements.

Section 306.090 - Maximum sound levels for recreational motorboats — exceptions.

Section 306.100 - Classification of vessels — equipment requirements.

Section 306.109 - Alcoholic drinking devices and containers prohibited on rivers — violation, penalty.

Section 306.113 - Operate defined — probable cause required.

Section 306.115 - Parasailing, requirements, prohibited, when.

Section 306.120 - Towing persons on skis or surfboard, regulations.

Section 306.122 - Motorboat or vessel operator, minimum age, exceptions, penalty.

Section 306.124 - Aids to navigation and regulatory markers defined — water patrol may mark waters, hearing, notice — markings, effect of — disaster, closing of certain waters — violation, penalty.

Section 306.125 - Operation of watercraft, how — restricted areas, certain vessels, speed allowed, penalty for violations — rulemaking authority — exceptions.

Section 306.126 - Motorboats, regulations as to passenger seating while under way — person in water, flag required, when — slow speed required, when — penalty.

Section 306.127 - Boating safety identification card required, when, requirements, fee — inapplicable, when — temporary boater safety identification card issued, when, rules, fee authorized, expiration date.

Section 306.128 - Boating offenses, offender requirements.

Section 306.129 - Rulemaking authority.

Section 306.130 - Regattas, races and other activities, authorization, regulation of.

Section 306.132 - Watercraft to stop on signal of water patrol or emergency watercraft, when — authorized speed near emergency watercraft — penalty.

Section 306.140 - Accident or collision, duties of operator — report required, when.

Section 306.142 - Personal watercraft, regulations — personal flotation devices — age restriction — reasonable and prudent operation — exceptions.

Section 306.147 - Muffler, defined — noise level regulation, muffler system required, certification of manufacturer — exceptions — on-site test to measure noise levels, penalty — application of section.

Section 306.150 - Watercraft livery — records — equipment to be furnished.

Section 306.165 - Water patrol officer, powers, duties and jurisdiction of.

Section 306.167 - Powers of peace officer when working in cooperation with other law enforcement agency.

Section 306.168 - Search warrants, water patrol division may request application for and serve, when.

Section 306.170 - Accident reports to United States on request.

Section 306.180 - Motorboat fund in state treasury, source and use.

Section 306.185 - Water patrol division fund created, use of proceeds.

Section 306.190 - Applicability of regulations — local regulations — special local rules prohibited.

Section 306.200 - Peace officers to enforce.

Section 306.210 - Penalties for violations.

Section 306.215 - Inspections of boats, refusal of or interference with — penalty.

Section 306.217 - Scuba diver's marker, flag required — flag described — boats to avoid — penalty.

Section 306.220 - Personal flotation device, who must wear, when, exception, penalty.

Section 306.221 - Obstruction of traffic or access to boat docks — violation, penalty.

Section 306.225 - Certain counties may regulate size and operation of watercraft on lakes, when (Clay and Jackson counties).

Section 306.250 - Definitions.

Section 306.260 - Boats not to discharge sewage, exception.

Section 306.270 - Marine toilets shall have suitable treatment device.

Section 306.280 - Inspection of boats.

Section 306.290 - Penalties for violations.

Section 306.300 - Definitions — marine sanitation device required — limitations — civil penalty.

Section 306.325 - Vessels on navigable waterways, restrictions on transporting of foodstuffs and beverages — violation, penalty.

Section 306.400 - Liens and encumbrances — valid, perfected, when, how, future advances — boats and motors subject to, when, how determined — revenue to establish security procedure, electronic notices, rulemaking authority.

Section 306.405 - Certificates of title, delivery of, how, to whom — lienholder may elect to have revenue retain electronic title.

Section 306.410 - Duties of parties upon creation of lien or encumbrance — failure of owner to perform certain duties, penalty — name change, authorization to director required.

Section 306.415 - Assignment of lien or encumbrance by lienholder, rights and obligations — perfection by assignee, how.

Section 306.420 - Satisfaction of lien or encumbrance, release of, procedure — duties of lienholder and director of revenue — penalty for unauthorized release of a lien.

Section 306.425 - Provisions of 306.400 to 306.430 exclusive — exceptions.

Section 306.430 - Liens and encumbrances incurred before July 1, 2003 — how terminated, completed and enforced.

Section 306.435 - Repossessed vessels, motorboats and outboard motors, certificate of title — application, procedure, fee, form of — notice — issued, when — director of revenue, duties, rulemaking authority.

Section 306.440 - Owner's failure to indicate lienholder on title application, penalty.

Section 306.455 - Certificate of title for outboard motors and vessels in names of two or more persons, presumptions — exception.

Section 306.456 - Certificate of title for outboard motors and vessels in one person's name, may be surrendered, new certificate issued for one or more other persons — fee.

Section 306.458 - Certificate of title, two or more persons, not held as tenants in common, death of one tenant, transfer to surviving owners, procedure, fee — tenants in common, death of one tenant, procedure to transfer, fee.

Section 306.461 - Certificate of title in beneficiary form — multiple beneficiaries allowed — procedure to issue, content, fee — consent not required for transactions, revocation — interest subject to certain claims — transfer not deemed testamentary...

Section 306.463 - Death of owner and no surviving owner or beneficiary, director of revenue may transfer and issue new certificate, when, procedure to obtain.

Section 306.465 - Rules and regulations, authority to promulgate, procedure.

Section 306.530 - Registration of outboard motors.

Section 306.532 - Certificate of title to designate year of manufacture

Section 306.535 - Applications, contents, fee — not made within certain period, delinquency fee.

Section 306.540 - Registration by director of revenue, when.

Section 306.545 - Registration number — placement.

Section 306.550 - Certificate forms — duties of seller and purchaser — temporary registration number, issuance, contents.

Section 306.555 - Inspection of outboard motors.

Section 306.560 - Outboard motor registration not required for manufacturers, visitors in state, and motors used solely for racing.

Section 306.565 - Fees — disposition.

Section 306.570 - Destruction of records.

Section 306.575 - Penalty for violation.

Section 306.900 - Direct molding process — use of to duplicate hulls prohibited, when — damages and injunctive relief, when.

Section 306.903 - Abandonment of boat dock, penalty — retrieval and disposal — identifying information on dock required, when, penalty.

Section 306.910 - Recreational water use — definitions — brochure, distribution, limitation on cost of.