Boating Safety

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This is Article 3 of the Code of Virginia, titled “Boating Safety.” It is part of Chapter 7 “Boating Laws”, which is part of Title 29.1 “Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating”.

It’s comprised of the following 32 sections.

§ 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§ 29.1-743 Repealed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§ 29.1-744.1 Repealed
§ 29.1-744.2 Repealed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