Section 150. Safe speed

It shall be unlawful to operate a watercraft in excess of a safe speed. A safe speed is a speed less than the maximum at which the operator can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and stop within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. In establishing a safe operating speed, operators shall take into account the state of visibility, traffic density, maneuverability of the vessel with special reference to stopping distance and turning ability, the presence of background light at night, the proximity of navigational hazards, the draft of the vessel, the limitations of radar equipment, and the state of wind, sea, and current. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor as provided by §§ 29.1-738 and 29.1-738.03 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 19, Issue 05, eff. January 1, 2003.

Statutory Authority

§§ 29.1-501, 29.1-502, 29.1-701, and 29.1-735 of the Code of Virginia.