Bill Text: WV HB2730 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to rules governing the operation of motor boats on lakes
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-11 - To House Natural Resources [HB2730 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2012-HB2730-Introduced.html
H. B. 2730
(By Delegates Rodighiero, Butcher, Stowers,
Shaver, Crosier and Talbott)
[Introduced January 11, 2012; referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §20-7-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to rules governing the operation of motorboats on lakes; and authorizing the use of motors exceeding nine horsepower.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §20-7-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 7. LAW ENFORCEMENT, MOTORBOATING, LITTER.
§20-7-22. General rules and regulations for motorboating; special rules.
The director is hereby authorized and empowered to may prescribe and to enforce:
(a) General rules and regulations to be observed in the operation or navigation of motorboats upon, over or through the waters of this state which he or she shall deem determines necessary for the public health or safety of persons or property on or in such waters, or for the preservation of all forms of useful aquatic life, particularly as to speed, running, lights, signals, courses, channels, rights-of-way, and the disposal of oil, gas, gasoline or other wastes from such boats;
(b) Special rules and regulations for such particular, artificial or natural areas of water, for further limiting, restricting or prohibiting the operation or navigation of motorboats thereon to protect the public health or to protect and preserve useful aquatic life.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, code or existing rule or local rule to the contrary, the director shall prescribe rules permitting the use of motors on motorboats that are larger than nine horsepower to be used on lakes in the state, if they are otherwise operating according to navigation rules, including operating at a slow or no-wake speed within one hundred feet of an anchored or moored vessel, shoreline, dock, pier, swim float, marked swim areas, swimmers, surfers, persons engaged in angling, any manually powered vessel or personal watercraft.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the use of motors exceeding nine horsepower in the operation of motorboats on lakes.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
