ARKANSAS BOATING LAWS

Before you take your boat out, take the time to go over the boating laws of the State of Arkansas.  The following regulations can be found here, in the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission handbook Arkansas Boating Laws and Responsibilities (Revised 2006). For further information, please contact your local wildlife officer or the Boating Law Administrator, Little Rock, Arkansas (501-223-6379) or visit the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission website. 

Prohibited Operations:
No operator of a vessel, aquaplane, personal watercraft, water skis, tube or similar device will be permitted to operate in a reckless or negligent manner, which endangers the life, limb or property of any person.

This includes but is not limited to:

• No person under the age of 12 shall operate a motorboat of 10HP of more unless under the direct supervision of someone over 17 years of age.
• Inattentive operation, failure to keep a proper lookout and weaving through congested vessel traffic.
• Failure to observe the inland navigation rules of the road as implemented by the United States Coast Guard.
• Operate in a manner which results in a collision with another person, vessel, or object.
• Operating within 100 feet of a towboat that is under way.
• Jumping the wake close behind that of another vessel or when visibility around the other vessel is obstructed and requires swerving at the last possible moment to avoid collision.
• Operating in a manner that exceeds the safe and reasonable limits under the existing circumstances.
• Operation at a rate of speed that creates a hazardous wash or wake.  This includes, but is not limited to, a wake causing other vessels to take on water.  Creating a wake / wash sufficient to toss occupants of other vessels about in a manner that risks personal injury.  Within 100 feet of a designated recreation area, a dock, pier, raft, float, anchored boat, dam, intake structure, or other obstruction at a speed exceeding 5 miles per hour unless a contrary speed limit has been established in the designated area.
• Vessels are not permitted to exceed the maximum horsepower or carrying capacity rating as specified by the manufacturer.
• No person shall be allowed to ride or sit on the gunwales or decking over the bow of the vessel while under way (except for necessary purposes such as mooring or casting off), unless adequate guards or railing are in place to prevent passengers from being lost overboard.
• No vessel used on the waters of this state shall be equipped with a siren, except vessels used by law enforcement officers.
• Operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited.  A blood alcohol level of .08% establishes that the operator is under the influence.  Operators who register .08% or above are subject to arrest.  Any person who operates a boat on the waters of the state is consenting to a test to determine if they are intoxicated.

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Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs):

• Boats under 16 feet in length, canoes and kayaks, must have one Type I, II or III PFD, in serviceable condition and of proper size for each person on board.
• Boats 16 feet or longer must have one Type I, II or III PFD in serviceable condition and of proper size for each person and one Type IV throwable PFD in each boat.
• Children under the age of 13 must wear a well-fitting PFD at all times while aboard a boat.  The only exceptions are when they are within the enclosed area of a houseboat, cruiser or within the railings of a party barge while the boat is not underway.
• No person shall operate a personal watercraft unless each person aboard is wearing Type I, II, III or V PFD approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.  Inflatable PFDs are not permitted.
• Persons being towed on water skis, tubes or similar devices are required to wear a Type I, II, III or V personal flotation device.  This does not apply to authorized water carnivals or exhibitions.

For more information on Personal Flotation Devices, please follow the link to the PFD webpage.

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Required Equipment:

• Fire extinguishers are required on inboard or open boats with built-in fuel tanks where flammable gases may accumulate.
• Lights:  When operating during the hours of darkness all vessels on non-federal waters and all non-powered boats (rowboats, canoes, sailboats) must have a readily accessible light source sufficient to prevent a collision.

• In addition to state requirements, vessels operating on federally controlled waters after the hours of darkness are required to have a combination red and green light on the bow (front) of the boat and a 360 degree visible white light on the stern (rear) of the boat.  The lights must be displayed at all times while the boat is under way at night, even while drifting without power.  While anchored between the hours of sunset to sunrise, only the white stern (anchor) light is required.
  

  Prescribed light placement on a sailboat, including white masthead light on federally-controlled waters.	Prescribed light placement on a motorboat on federally-controlled waters.

  
  
• Muffler Equipment:  Arkansas law requires an effective exhaust muffling system, which will insure quietness of operation, except during an authorized race or regatta.
  

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Cutoff Switch (Lanyard):  

• The motorboat operator is required to wear the engine cut-off lanyard (kill switch) securely attached to the operator's clothing, or personal flotation device, while the engine is used to propel the boat, if the boat is so equipped.
• Exceptions:
  • If the motorboat equipped with a lanyard-type switch is a house boat, a pontoon boat, or is traveling less than five (5) miles per hour, the lanyard shall not be required to be attached to the operator's clothing, or to the operator's personal flotation device.
  • This does not apply to flat bottomed boats operated on the tail waters of a trout fishery, nor to flat bottomed boats operated for duck hunting purposes during duck season.

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Liability Insurance:  

• Operators of motorboats with over a 50 horsepower motor must carry proof of a minimum of $50,000 liability insurance.  (Non-residents are exempt.)
• Operators of all personal watercraft must carry proof of a minimum $50,000 liability insurance.  (Non-residents are exempt.)
• A personal watercraft livery (marinas) shall carry a minimum of $500,000 liability insurance.

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Boat Registration:

• Any vessel propelled by sail or machinery of any type must be registered with Arkansas Department of Revenue.  Vessels documented by the U.S. Coast Guard, owned by a government agency, and / or a ship's lifeboat are exempt from registration.  The registration certificate must be available for inspection at all times when the boat is being operated.
• Arkansas boat owners have the option of registering their vessel at the Revenue Office in their county of residence or in the county where the boat is principally used.
• Motorboats, sail boats and personal watercraft (PWC) are registered through the Department of Finance and Administration / Revenue Department.  Newly registered boats and personal watercraft will be required to show proof of ownership, proof of  assessment, proof of liability insurance (boats over 50HP and all personal watercraft) and the hull identification number.  Persons who have purchased new boats will have twenty (20) working days to register the boat in their name.  Motorboats and personal watercraft may be operated on the waters of this state during the 20 day grace period provided they have on board a bill of sale or other acceptable proof of purchase indicating the date of purchase and hull identification number of the vessel.  Registrations are valid for three years.

Registration Number Display:
The identification number assigned to each registered vessel shall be:

• Painted, attached, or otherwise permanently displayed on both sides of the forward half, or bow of the vessel.Safety equipment, required by law, is on board, maintained in good condition, and you know how to properly use these devices.
• Numbers / letters shall be BLOCK style and not less than 3-inches in height. Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen.
• Characters must be clearly visible, legible, and of a color which contrasts with the background of the vessel.
• A pair of color-coded validation stickers indicating the vessel's expiration date will be issued at the time of registration.  One sticker must be placed on each side of the bow, on the same level, but three inches behind the identifying number.
• No other numbers may be displayed on the bow of the boat.

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Accidents & Accident Reporting:  
The operator of every vessel involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty resulting in death, injury or property damage of $500 or more, is required to: 

• Render assistance as may be practicable to other persons affected by the incident in order to save them or minimize any danger - so far as he can without serious danger to his own vessel, , crew, or passengers.
• Give his name, address, and identification of his vessel in writing to any person injured and to the owner of any property damaged in the incident.
• Immediately contact the local Sheriff's department or a representative of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission at 1-800-482-9262 to investigate the accident.

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Water Skiing, Tubing & Similar Activity:

• Persons being towed on water skis, tubes or similar device are required to wear a Type I, II, III or V personal flotation device.  This does not apply to authorized water carnivals or exhibitions.
• Towing is not permitted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.  This does not apply to activities conducted in controlled areas designated for that purpose.
• Boats used for the purpose of towing must have, in addition to the operator, a person at least 12 years of age on board as an observer or be equipped with a wide angle convex marine mirror for the purpose of observing the person being towed.
• Personal watercraft being used for the purpose of towing shall have on board, in addition to the operator, another person to observe the person being towed.  Mirrors will not be accepted as a substitute for an observer.  In addition, the personal watercraft must be able to accommodate the operator, observer and person(s) being towed.

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Personal Watercraft:

• No person shall operate a personal watercraft unless each person aboard is wearing Type I, II, III or V PFD approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.  Inflatable PFDs are not permitted.
• Operators of personal watercraft with a manufacturer equipped laynyard type engine cutoff switch shall attach the lanyard to his person, clothing, or PFD as appropriate.
• Operation of personal watercraft is not permitted from 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise.
• No person under the age of 14 is permitted to operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this state without direct adult supervision except as follows:  Persons 12 and 13 years old may operate with a person at least 18 years old on board.  Persons under the age 12 must be accompanied by a person at least 21 years of age and in a position to take immediate control of the vessel.
• Personal watercraft shall carry a minimum of $50,000 liability insurance.  Proof of coverage must be carried on the craft before operating on the waters of this state.
• Personal watercraft shall, at all times, be operated in a prudent and reasonable manner.  No person who is in charge of or who has control of a personal watercraft shall operate, authorize or knowingly permit the vessel to be operated in an unsafe or reckless manner.  Unsafe operation shall include, but is not limited to the following:
  • Becoming airborne or leaving the water while crossing within 100 feet of that vessel creating the wake.
  • Weaving through congested traffic.
  • Operating at a greater than "Slow - No-wake" speed within 100 feet of an anchored or moored vessel, shoreline, dock, pier, swim float, marked swim area, swimmer, surfer, person engaged in angling or any manually propelled vessel.
  • Operating contrary to the "Rules of the Road", or exceeding 10 mph when approaching within 100 feet to the rear or 50 feet to the side of any other vessel which is underway.  If operating in a channel too narrow to keep the required distance, personal watercraft may be operated at a speed which is reasonable and prudent for the existing conditions.
  • Towing person(s) on skis, tubes or other devices using a personal watercraft shall have on board, in addition to the operator, an observer who shall monitor the progress of the person being towed.
  • The total number of persons operating, observing, and being towed shall not exceed the specified number of passengers as identified by the manufacturer as the maximum safe load of the vessel.
    

Use of Glass Containers:

• No persons shall possess or use glass containers within the banks of Arkansas' navigable waterways within a vessel.
• All persons using Arkansas' navigable waterways by canoe, kayak, inner tube or other vessel easily susceptible to swamping, tipping, rolling, or otherwise discharging its contents into a waterway and transporting a cooler, ice-box, or other container for foodstuffs and beverages shall:
  • Assure the container is made to seal or lock in the contents to prevent spills.
  • Carry affixed to the vessel, a container or bag suitable for containing their refuse, waste and trash materials, and capable of being securely closed. The container shall be of mesh construction.
  • Transport all their refuse, waste and trash to a place where the materials may be safely and lawfully disposed.
• At all times when a beverage is not securely contained, the beverage must be attached to or contained in a floating holder designed to prevent the beverage from sinking beneath the surface.
• Navigable waterway means any navigable river, lake or other body of water used or susceptible to being used in its natural condition by canoe, kayak, inner tube, or other vessel easily, susceptible to swamping, tipping, or rolling, located wholly or partly, within this state.
• The following vessels are "exempt" from this law: houseboat, Party Barge. Jon boat. Runabout, Ski boat, Bass boat or similar craft not easily susceptible to swamping, tipping, or rolling.

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Duties of Law Enforcement:
It shall be the duty of every sheriff, deputy sheriff, state police officer, municipal police officer, and enforcement officer of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, as well as certified law enforcement officers of the Department of Parks and Tourism to enforce the following provisions:

• In the exercise of their duties, they shall have the authority to stop and board any vessel to investigate any accident or violation involving vessels.
• Upon investigation, they may direct the operator of any vessel to return to the dock where the voyage originated or to the nearest dock if appropriate.
• Failure to follow the directive of a law enforcement officer, shall constitute a separate offense in addition to any violations with which the operator may be charged.
• Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) or imprisonment not to exceed three (3) months, or both.

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This page was last updated on November 11, 2007
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