Title 15 — Title 15: Navigation and Aeronautics

Sec. 15-121. Administrative procedure. (a) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall administer the provisions of this chapter and for such purpose shall have exclusive jurisdiction of all waters of the state, subject…

Secs. 15-122 and 15-123. Appointment and organization of commission. Director; employees. Sections 15-122 and 15-123 are repealed. (1961, P.A. 506, S. 3, 4; 520, S. 3. 4; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 152.)

Sec. 15-124. Investigations. Hearings. The commissioner may conduct investigations and hold hearings on any matter arising under the provisions of this chapter and for such purpose may, upon request, use any courtroom or town hall. The commissioner may issue subpoenas, administer…

Sec. 15-125. Appeal from action of Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Any person aggrieved by an order or decision of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under this chapt…

Sec. 15-126. Determination of validity of regulations. The validity of any regulation adopted by the commissioner may be determined by the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford. No action shall be brought until the complaining party has requested the commissioner t…

Sec. 15-127. Definitions. As used in this part unless the context otherwise requires: “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection; “federal waters” means the navigable waters of the United States within the territorial limits of the state; “state …

Sec. 15-128. Lights. Section 15-128 is repealed. (1961, P.A. 520, S. 8; P.A. 76-381, S. 20; P.A. 77-327, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-505, S. 8, 9.)

Sec. 15-129. Safety and equipment requirements for vessels. Regulation of motorboat noise. (a) Vessels operated on state and federal waters shall comply with the federal and state safety and equipment requirements contained in this chapter. The federal requirements cited in this …

Sec. 15-129a. Required and authorized lights. (a) Every vessel using state or federal waters shall comply with the following federal requirements, which are incorporated herein by reference, regarding the use of navigation lights: 33 USC 2020 to 2021, inclusive, as amended from t…

Sec. 15-130. Modification or suspension of requirements. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may modify or suspend any requirement of sections 15-129 and 15-129a in respect to any class of vessels or vessels using any water or class of waters upon finding that…

Sec. 15-130a. Powers of officers re vessel in unsafe condition. If any officer empowered to enforce the provisions of this chapter observes a vessel being used without sufficient lifesaving or fire-fighting devices or in an overloaded or otherwise unsafe condition as defined in t…

Sec. 15-131. Rules for preventing collisions. The rules prescribed by this section for preventing collisions shall govern the operation of all vessels on state and federal waters. In construing the provisions of this section, risk of collision shall be deemed to exist when the co…

Sec. 15-132. Procedure in case of collision or accident. When two or more vessels are involved in a collision, accident or other casualty, the operator of each, so far as he can do so without danger to his vessel or to its crew or passengers, shall render to the other vessel, its…

Sec. 15-132a. Manslaughter in the second degree with a vessel. (a) A person is guilty of manslaughter in the second degree with a vessel when, while operating a vessel upon the waters of this state under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, such person cause…

Sec. 15-133. Rules for safe operation. Operation of vessel while under the influence of liquor or drugs. Penalties. Records of conviction. (a) The rules prescribed by this section shall apply on all state and federal waters. (b) No person shall use a vessel in a manner that unrea…

Sec. 15-133a. Safety controls on the Housatonic River. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall prescribe, install and maintain suitable safety controls and warning devices on the approaches to the dams on the Housatonic River for the safety of boats utilizin…

Sec. 15-133b. Boating safety certificate for certain minors. Owners prohibited from permitting operation without certificate, when. Section 15-133b is repealed. (1969, P.A. 487, S. 1-4; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 378; P.A. 82-223, S. 26; 82-421, S. 3, 4; P.A. 83-577, S. 31; P.A. 89-388, …

Sec. 15-133c. When boating safety certificate required upon violation of safety rules. (a) On or before January 1, 1991, any person convicted of more than one violation of section 15-133 or 15-134 within any two-year period may not operate a motorboat powered by a motor in excess…

Sec. 15-134. Water skiing. Jumps and courses for skiers and vessels. (a) In addition to the requirements of section 15-140e concerning water skiing, no person shall: (1) Operate a motorboat towing a water skier unless there is present in such motorboat, in addition to the operato…

Sec. 15-135. Position of scuba divers to be marked. Safe operating distance for vessels. (a) No person shall engage in underwater swimming or diving using a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus or other artificial breathing device in any state or federal water without ma…

Sec. 15-136. Ordinances and regulations. (a) Any town, by ordinance, may make local regulations respecting the operation of vessels on any body of water within its territorial limits. Upon adoption, each such ordinance shall be submitted to the commissioner and, if not disapprove…

Sec. 15-136a. Compliance with certain engine size requirements. In complying with the requirements of any statute, regulation or ordinance restricting the horsepower or size of the engine on any vessel while being operated on an inland body of water, a person may (1) in the case …

Sec. 15-137. Enforcement. Section 15-137 is repealed. (1961, P.A. 520, S. 17; 1963, P.A. 552, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 170, S. 2.)

Sec. 15-138. Publication of laws, regulations and ordinances. On or before the first day of April annually the commissioner shall publish in pamphlet form and distribute all general and special laws and all regulations and ordinances adopted or approved by him pertaining to or af…

Sec. 15-139. Penalties. (a) Any person who violates any provision of section 15-132 or section 15-134 shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars. (b) Any person who violates any other provision of this part for which no penalty is provided shall be fined not more than one h…

Sec. 15-140. Special acts and ordinances superseded. All special acts and municipal ordinances inconsistent with the provisions of this part are superseded and shall be of no force or effect. (1961, P.A. 520, S. 20.)

Sec. 15-140a. Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection as attorney for service of process on nonresident. Any person not a resident of this state who causes a vessel to be operated upon any waters which are subject to the jurisdiction of this state shall be deemed to h…

Sec. 15-140b. Marine parades, regattas, races, tournaments or exhibitions. Warning devices. Penalty. Written permission shall be obtained from the commissioner at least thirty days in advance for any marine parade, regatta, race, tournament or exhibition to be held on state water…

Sec. 15-140c. Abandonment of vessel. Parties with standing. Abandoned vessel procedures. Online process. Hazardous waste designation. Violation; fine; exception. (a) No person shall abandon any vessel on the waters of this state or upon property other than his own without the con…

Sec. 15-140d. Obstruction to navigation or public use of waters prohibited. Remedies. No person shall place or cause to be placed any marker, raft, dockslip, ski jump or similar structure upon the state's waters so as to create an obstruction or menace to navigation or a hindranc…

Sec. 15-140e. Safe boating certificate. Safe water skiing endorsement. (a) No resident of the state, person owning real property in the state or person owning a vessel in the state shall operate on the waters of the state a vessel which is required to be registered or numbered pu…

Sec. 15-140f. Courses in safe boating operation. Safe water skiing instruction. Regulations. Reciprocity. (a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall formulate courses in safe boating operation. (b) (1) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance…

Sec. 15-140g. Safe boating certificate to be carried on board vessel. Penalty. (a) Any person required to obtain a safe boating certificate pursuant to section 15-140e shall have such certificate on board at all times while operating a vessel. On demand of an officer authorized t…

Sec. 15-140h. Operation of vessel by person less than twelve years of age. Operation of vessel engaged in water skiing by person less than sixteen years of age. (a) No person less than twelve years of age shall operate a motor powered vessel exceeding ten horsepower unless accomp…

Sec. 15-140i. Suspension of certificate of boating operation. Regulations. Section 15-140i is repealed. (P.A. 89-388, S. 5; P.A. 91-408, S. 17, 18.)

Sec. 15-140j. Certificate of personal watercraft operation. Operation of personal watercraft with passengers. Operation of jetted articulated vessels. Regulations. (a) As used in this section, “personal watercraft” is any inboard powered vessel less than sixteen feet in length th…

Sec. 15-140k. Reckless operation of a vessel in the first degree. (a) A person commits the offense of reckless operation of a vessel in the first degree when he operates a vessel at such speed or maneuvers a vessel in such a manner as to result in (1) death or serious physical in…

Sec. 15-140l. Reckless operation of a vessel in the first degree while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. (a) A person commits the offense of reckless operation of a vessel in the first degree while under the influence when, while under the influence of intoxica…

Sec. 15-140m. Reckless operation of a vessel in the second degree. (a) A person commits the offense of reckless operation of a vessel in the second degree when he (1) operates a vessel at such speed or maneuvers a vessel in such a manner as to endanger the life, limb or property …

Sec. 15-140n. Reckless operation of a vessel in the second degree while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. (a) A person commits the offense of reckless operation of a vessel in the second degree while under the influence when, while under the influence of intoxi…

Sec. 15-140o. Seizure of vessel. (a) Any peace officer authorized to enforce the provisions of sections 15-129, 15-133, 15-133b, 15-133c, 15-140e to 15-140u, inclusive, 15-154 and 15-156 who arrests an operator for a violation of section 15-132a, subsection (d) of section 15-133 …

Sec. 15-140p. Fines deposited in Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. Any fine imposed for a violation of section 15-132a, subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 15-140k or subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 15-140l shall be deposited in the Criminal Injuries Comp…

Sec. 15-140q. Consent for chemical test and nontestimonial portion of drug influence evaluation. Suspension of safe boating certificate. Procedures. Hearing on suspension. Penalties for conviction. Elevated blood alcohol content defined. Regulations. (a) Any person who operates a…

Sec. 15-140r. Evidence of alcohol or drugs in blood or urine. (a) Except as provided in section 15-140s or subsection (d) of this section, in any criminal prosecution for the violation of section 15-132a, subsection (d) of section 15-133, section 15-140l or 15-140n or subsection …

Sec. 15-140s. Seizure and admissibility of chemical analysis of blood or urine sample of injured operator. Evidence respecting the amount of alcohol or drug in the blood or urine of an operator of a vessel involved in an accident who has suffered or allegedly suffered physical in…

Sec. 15-140t. Immunity of person taking sample. A person qualified to withdraw blood or take a urine specimen or any hospital, laboratory or clinic employing or utilizing the services of such a person shall not incur any civil liability as a result of such activities if requested…

Sec. 15-140u. Blood sample of body of deceased person. As part of the investigation of any boating accident resulting in a fatality, the Chief Medical Examiner or a deputy medical examiner, an associate medical examiner or a pathologist appointed pursuant to section 19a-405, or a…

Sec. 15-140v. Reinstatement of safe boating certificate, right to operate vessel or certificate of personal watercraft operation. Regulations. Section 15-140v is repealed, effective June 11, 2014. (P.A. 03-244, S. 16; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 14-187, S. 55.) PART III* NUMBERING AND…

Sec. 15-141. Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires: “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection; “vessel” means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on water, used or capable of being used as a …

Sec. 15-142. Vessel numbering requirements. Certain vessels required to display registration decals. (a) Every vessel used upon the waters of this state shall be numbered, except as otherwise provided in this section and section 15-143. For purposes of this section and said secti…