Coast Guard Plays Traffic Cop for LA Holiday Boat Parties
Published Date: 12/11/2025
Rule
Summary
The Coast Guard is stepping up to keep everyone safe during several fun holiday boat parades in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area this December 2025. If you’re boating in these zones, be ready to follow Coast Guard instructions during the event times. These rules help protect people and property on the water, so plan ahead and enjoy the festive lights without a hitch!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Enforcement During December Boat Parades
If you boat in the Los Angeles–Long Beach Captain of the Port Zone, the Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the listed holiday boat parades in December 2025. Enforcement applies on these dates/times: Port of Los Angeles on Dec 6 (5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.); Ventura Harbor, Dana Point, and other parades Dec 12–14 (various times between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.); multiple parades (including Morro Bay, Channel Islands Harbor, Marina del Rey, King Harbor, Shoreline Yacht Club, Huntington Harbor) on Dec 13–14 with event-specific times; Newport Beach Dec 17–21 (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily); and Naples Island on Dec 20 (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.).
Spectator Vessel Movement Limits
During the enforcement periods, any vessel not registered as a parade participant is a spectator and must not anchor, block, loiter, or impede participant or official patrol vessel transit in the regulated areas. If hailed or signaled by an official patrol vessel during those dates/times, spectators must come to an immediate stop and follow directions from the Patrol Commander or official patrol vessels.
Patrol Commander Authority Over Vessels
The Patrol Commander (PATCOM) may control movement of all vessels in the regulated area, restrict vessel entry, terminate events for safety, and—upon request—allow transit of commercial vessels when it is safe to do so. The PATCOM will be aboard the lead official patrol vessel and may be reached on VHF‑FM Channel 13 (156.65 MHz) or 16 (156.8 MHz) by the call sign "PATCOM."
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