§70041 Regattas and marine parades

Summary

The Coast Guard Commandant can create safety rules for boat races and marine parades on waters where boats travel. To enforce those rules, the Commandant can use Coast Guard public vessels and any private boats offered for free. At the Commandant’s request, other federal agency heads can help by using their public vessels and private boats offered for free. The President can temporarily give the Commandant’s authority to another federal agency head for special events. If someone breaks the rules, penalties depend on who they are. A licensed officer can have their license suspended or revoked for incompetence or misconduct. A person navigating a vessel who is not a licensed officer faces a $5,000 penalty. A vessel owner (including a corporate officer) who is actually on board faces $5,000 unless they did not know about the violation. Any other person faces $2,500. The Commandant can reduce or cancel these penalties under the same procedures used for other navigation-law penalties.