How Much Is It To Register A Motorized Kayak In Virginia

Who is immune to drive a boat? What happens if the commuter/boater is intoxicated? How old do yous take to be to stop wearing your life jacket? What is required to operate a boat in Virginia?
Nosotros answer all these questions and more in this comprehensive guide to Virginia boating constabulary and Virginia kayaking laws !

Virginia boating and kayaking law

Who is allowed to bulldoze a boat?

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, anyone of whatsoever age is allowed to operate a non-motorized boat (such as a kayak or canoe). Virginia kayak laws land that if the boat has a motor of 10 horsepower or greater, the operator must be xiv years onetime or older and complete a boating safety form.
Anyone operating a motorized boat or vessel must acquit proof that they accept completed the course (this is like a driver's license for boats). If yous are defenseless driving illegally, you tin can be fined.

What are the canoeing safety laws?

In this article, nosotros cover 2 boat safety requirements : registration and life jackets.

Virginia Boat Registration

Whatsoever non-motorized water vehicle (such as a kayak or canoe) up to 18 anxiety does not need to be registered in Virginia. Any motorized vehicle of any length does need to exist registered.

Yous tin register and pay your Virginia boating license fees online. Once you practice, you will receive validation decals, which you must display side by side to your registration numbers near the front (bow) of your vessel.

Life Jackets

Also known equally Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) or life vests, life jackets are recommended for article of clothing for anyone on the water at any time. However, they are only required by police for anyone upwards through the historic period of 12.
If you are not wearing your life jacket, you are required to have one of the appropriate size hands accessible for each person in your vessel in case of emergency. Failure to comply with these laws could result in a fine. Or worse, they could result in dangerous, life-threatening situations which could stop badly.

What is reckless gunkhole performance?

Virginia reckless boat operation

Virginia takes safe boat operation seriously and punishes reckless performance .

The law defines reckless boat functioning as operating "any personal watercraft recklessly or at a speed or in such a manner so as to endanger the life, limb or holding of whatever person…"

Examples include:

Weaving through stopped vessels at an unreasonable speed.
Post-obit some other vessel also closely, or "jumping the wake" of a vessel.
Cut betwixt a boat and the person it is towing (on water skis or the like).
Purposely getting close to another person or water vessel and and then turning sharply with the intent to spray them with water.

If you are caught doing any of these things, y'all can be charged with a Course 1 misdemeanor the starting time time. If convicted of a Class i Misdemeanor, the punishment is up to 12 months in jail and/or upwards to $2,500 in fines. A second and subsequent violation is also Course 1 Misdemeanor PLUS you could lose your Virginia boating privileges for upwardly to 12 months.

If you have been charged with reckless boat operation, please contact Cook Attorneys immediately. We tin aid you defend yourself in courtroom, or even avoid court altogether.

What happens if I'm drinking and boating?

Can yous get a DUI on a boat ? The boating equivalent of a DUI is a BUI—Boating Under the Influence. Sometimes, it's called a BWI— Boating While Intoxicated . While many people like to savour a beer while boating, Virginia frowns heavily on BUIs.

boating while intoxicated in Virginia

If you lot are under 21, and y'all are caught operating a motorized vessel with any alcohol content in your arrangement, y'all will be charged with BUI.
If you are 21 or over, and you are operating a motorized vessel with a Blood Alcohol Content of .08% or higher, y'all volition be charged. It's the same if you have certain levels of cocaine or methamphetamines in your arrangement.

The Boating Nether the Influence penalty is a Class 1 Misdemeanor, which means you could face to one twelvemonth in jail and/or $2,500 in fines. You could also accept your boating privileges revoked.

Contact Melt Attorneys if you are accused of violating boating and/or kayaking law in Virginia. Larn more most our traffic defence service , which includes defense force of h2o traffic violations.