Title 15 — Title 15: Navigation and Aeronautics

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 Section 15-137 is repealed.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 Special acts and ordinances superseded. All special acts and municipal ordinances inconsistent with the provisions of this part are superseded and shall be of no force or effect.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…

Sec. 15-143. Exceptions to numbering and registration requirements. (a) Vessels of the following classes are not required to be numbered or display a Connecticut registration decal by this state: (1) Motorboats which have a valid marine document issued by the United States Coast …

Sec. 15-144. Vessel registration number or registration decal. Schedule of fees payable to Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Regulations. Penalty. (a) Any owner desiring to obtain a vessel registration number or registration decal shall apply to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles a…

Sec. 15-144a. Provision of information re registrants to tax assessors. Section 15-144a is repealed. (1971, P.A. 668, S. 5; P.A. 73-257, S. 11, 27; P.A. 81-423, S. 24.)

Sec. 15-145. Marine dealer's, marine engine manufacturer's and marine surveyor's registration numbers. Regulations. Fees. Availability and renewal of certificates. Use of vessels. Restrictions. (a) A marine dealer, marine engine manufacturer or marine surveyor may obtain one or m…

Sec. 15-145a. Marine dealer's registration numbers for boat trailers. (a) Each marine dealer, as defined in section 15-141, may make application to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for a general distinguishing number and mark in lieu of registering each boat trailer owned by hi…

Sec. 15-145b. Operation of a vessel registered with a marine dealer registration number by holder of passenger-for-hire license and party or charter fishing vessel registration. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, any person who holds a current passenger-for-hire …

Sec. 15-146. Notice of change of address. Within fifteen days after changing his address, the owner of a vessel with a registration number or registration decal issued by this state shall file with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles notice in writing of such change. The owner's c…

Sec. 15-147. Termination of certificate of number upon transfer, destruction or abandonment of vessel. (a) The owner of a vessel which has been awarded a registration number or registration decal by this state shall notify the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in writing within fift…

Sec. 15-148. Duplicate certificate. If a valid certificate of number or registration is lost, mutilated or destroyed, the owner shall notify the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in writing within fifteen days. The owner may obtain a duplicate certificate upon application to the Com…

Sec. 15-149. Accident reports. Section 15-149 is repealed. (1961, P.A. 506, S. 16; 1967, P.A. 184, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 389; P.A. 73-257, S. 16, 27; P.A. 76-381, S. 31; P.A. 87-505, S. 8, 9.)

Sec. 15-149a. Reporting of accidents. Responsibilities of towboat operators. (a) Any person operating a vessel upon the waters of this state which vessel is in any manner involved in an accident in which any person dies, is injured so as to require medical attention, or disappear…

Sec. 15-149b. Reporting of accidents involving death, injury or disappearance. Report of interviews. (a) Any law enforcement officer, fire department personnel, rescue service personnel, emergency medical technician or other emergency response official who receives the initial re…

Sec. 15-150. Rental of vessels. Boat livery requirements. (a) Each boat liveryperson shall keep a record of the name and address of every person who rents a vessel, the registration number thereof, if applicable, the departure date and time and the expected time of return. The re…

Sec. 15-150a. Any facility mooring or storing vessels required to maintain record of vessels not registered in Connecticut. Each boat yard, public or private marina or other entity renting or leasing slips, dry storage, mooring or other space for vessels during the period from Ap…

Sec. 15-151. Records of Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Remission and report of fees. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall keep a record of all registration numbers assigned by him and of all certificates of number and certificates of registration recorded with him. The Commi…

Sec. 15-152. False statement, penalty. Every statement made in an application, notice or report required by this part shall be upon oath or affirmation. Any person who knowingly makes a material false statement, in addition to such other penalty as may be imposed by law, shall be…

Sec. 15-153. Alteration or defacing of certificate of number or registration or alteration, removal or obliteration of number displayed on vessel. No person shall alter or deface a certificate of number or registration or alter, remove or obliterate the number displayed on a vess…

Sec. 15-154. Enforcement. Refusal to stop vessel or take vessel to designated area. Rules for avoiding interference with operation of law enforcement vessel or fire rescue vessel. Penalties. (a) Any harbor master, deputy harbor master, conservation officer, special conservation o…

Sec. 15-154a. Town marine officers and auxiliaries. (a) The selectmen of any town may appoint for such length of time as they determine such number of special constables to be called town marine officers as they deem necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter, section 53…

Sec. 15-154b. Violation on waters between towns. Whenever any person or persons are committing a violation of the state boating laws or regulations, on that portion of any waters lying between two or more towns, any officer of either town, empowered to enforce the provisions of t…

Sec. 15-154c. Attachment of property of town marine officer prohibited. No attachments shall be made against the real or personal property of any town marine officer appointed in accordance with section 15-154a for any actions taken in the performance of his duties. (P.A. 77-433.…

Sec. 15-155. Distribution of revenue received in fees for numbering and registration of vessels. Boating account. Section 15-155 is repealed, effective May 4, 2011. (1961, P.A. 506, S. 22; 1963, P.A. 564, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 392; P.A. 73-257, S. 20, 27; P.A. 76-365, S. 1, 2;…