A person shall not operate a vessel displaying or using a rotating, strobing, flashing, or intermittently reflecting blue light unless a duly commissioned law enforcement officer is on board.
The operator of a vessel being approached by a vessel flashing a blue light shall stop or maneuver in a way as to permit boarding, so far as possible without endangering his vessel, and not begin normal movement again until directed by the law enforcement officer or until the vessel flashing a blue light has cleared the immediate area.
The operator of a vessel approaching an area where a vessel flashing a blue light is located or patrolling shall slow his vessel to a no wake speed and shall maintain the speed until clear of the area.
A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than thirty days for each violation.
HISTORY: 1979 Act No. 68, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1269; 2011 Act No. 59, Section 1, eff August 1, 2011.
Effect of Amendment
The 2011 amendment, in the first paragraph, substituted "A person shall not operate a vessel displaying, or using a rotating, strobing, flashing, or intermittently reflecting" for "No person shall operate any vessel displaying, reflecting or flashing a"; in the second paragraph, substituted "a vessel" for "any vessel" following "The operator of", deleted "such" preceding "a way as to permit", and deleted "own" following "without endangering his"; in the third paragraph, substituted "a vessel" for "any vessel" following "The operator of", and substituted "the speed" for "such speed"; and in the fourth paragraph, substituted "A person" for "Any person" and "must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than thirty days for each violation" for "shall be punished as provided in Section 50-21-150".
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft
Chapter 21 - Equipment And Operation Of Watercraft
Section 50-21-10. Definitions.
Section 50-21-20. Legislative declaration of policy.
Section 50-21-30. Watercraft laws and ordinances; special rules and regulations.
Section 50-21-40. Administration of chapter.
Section 50-21-45. Administration of oaths; acknowledgment of signatures.
Section 50-21-70. Limit on expenses and costs of administration.
Section 50-21-80. Enforcement of provisions of chapter; authority to issue summons or make arrests.
Section 50-21-90. Boating safety and educational program.
Section 50-21-100. Records to be kept by owners of boat liveries.
Section 50-21-105. Towing of watercraft by department.
Section 50-21-110. Negligent operation of water device; offense; penalties.
Section 50-21-111. Reckless operation of water device; offense; penalties.
Section 50-21-117. Operation of water device while privileges suspended; offense; penalties.
Section 50-21-146. Discharging firearm at boat landing or ramp prohibited.
Section 50-21-160. Disposition of fees and fines.
Section 50-21-180. Riding surfboard near fishing piers.
Section 50-21-190. Abandoning watercraft or outboard motor; penalty; removal.
Section 50-21-820. Water skiing, surfboarding, and similar activity prohibited during certain hours.
Section 50-21-830. Exemptions.
Section 50-21-850. Ski belt, life preserver, or similar equipment required; exceptions.
Section 50-21-855. Enforcement of regulations affecting windsurfers and sailboarders.
Section 50-21-860. Restrictions on use of airboats.
Section 50-21-870. Personal watercraft and boating safety.
Section 50-21-1010. Regulation of regattas, races, and similar exhibitions.