Title 59, Ports, Harbors, Landings and Watercraft

The commission is hereby authorized to purchase, operate and maintain such motor vehicles, boats, trailers, motors and other equipment as may be deemed necessary and proper for the administration of this chapter. The commission may purchase property damage insurance on its motor …

Any person or organization sponsoring a regatta, motorboat or other boat race, marine parade, tournament or exhibition shall be responsible for providing adequate protection from marine traffic interference and hazards. The commission may adopt and may from time to time amend reg…

The executive director with the approval of the commission may employ and fix the duties of such clerical assistants, enforcement officers and other agents as may be deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and to fix their tenure of employment and compensati…

Each enforcement officer shall execute and file with the state treasurer a good and sufficient surety bond in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), conditioned on the faithful performance of his respective duties. Each enforcement officer shall be reimbursed by the commiss…

(1) It shall be the duty of all enforcement officers to enforce, and to obey and carry out all instructions, directions, rules and regulations of the department with respect to the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. Each enforcement officer shall account for and pay o…

(1) Any agency or political subdivision of this state may make application to the commission for special rules and regulations with reference to the operation, equipment or safety of vessels on any waters of this state within its territorial limits or authorized jurisdiction and …

An application for renewal of a certificate of number shall be made by the owner on an application which must be received by the commission within the last ninety (90) days before the expiration date on the certificate of number. The same number will be issued upon renewal. If a …

The certified statement of ownership on the application for the award of a number shall constitute prima facie evidence of proof of ownership. Liens of all kinds, including reservations or transfers of title to secure debts or claims, will be disregarded in determining ownership …

All peace officers and other law enforcement officials are hereby authorized, empowered and enjoined to enforce the provisions of this chapter within their respective jurisdictions. It shall be the duty of each district attorney in this state and each county prosecuting attorney …

(a) Any person who violates any provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to the following penalties:(a) For a violation of any of the provisions of Sections 59-21-23(d), 59-21-29, 59-21-33, 59-21-55, 59-21-81 through 59-21-87, and 59-21-111 throu…

All monies collected as fines or penalties for violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be paid over by the court, justice court judge, or other officer collecting or receiving the fines or penalties to the county having jurisdiction over the violation as provided by law…

The owner or operator of a vessel, or both, shall be civilly liable for any injury or damage proximately resulting from the negligent failure of such owner or operator to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter.

The venue of any action based on this chapter may be in the county in which the vessel is usually moored, docked, housed or garaged, or in the county in which a vessel is involved in a boating accident, or in event of a boating accident taking place on a navigable waterway which …

The acceptance by a nonresident of the right and privileges of operating a vessel or motorboat on any of the waters of this state, as evidenced by his operating, either in person or by agent or employee, a vessel or motorboat upon any of the navigable waters of this state, shall …

The provisions of Sections 59-21-157 through 59-21-161 shall not be construed to limit any cause of action heretofore maintainable at common law, maritime law or in admiralty, but shall be cumulative and supplemental thereto.

(1) The certificate of number shall include the following:(a) Name and full address of owner, including zip code.(b) Date of birth of owner.(c) Present citizenship of owner (county, state, country).(d) State and county in which vessel is principally operated.(e) Present registrat…

(1) The certificate of number shall be pocket-size, approximately two and one-half inches (2-1/2”) by three and one-half inches (3-1/2”), and water resistant. (2) Pending the issuance of the original certificate of number, the owner of the vessel may be furnished a temporary cert…

(1) When the owner of a numbered vessel removes his residence to another state, or the numbered vessel is not usually moored, docked, housed or garaged within this state, the owner shall, within ninety (90) days thereafter, surrender the certificate of number to the commission. (…

(a) Certificates of number may be cancelled or voided under the following circumstances:(a) Surrender of certificate for cancellation;(b) Issuance of a new number for the same vessel;(c) Issuance of a marine document by the Bureau of Customs for the same vessel;(d) False or fraud…

(1) Fees for the award of certificates of number for original, transfer, renewal, livery, dealer and duplicate shall be as follows:(a) Less than 16 feet $ 7.50(b) 16 feet but less than 26 feet $22.50(c) 26 feet but less than 40 feet $45.00(d) 40 feet and over $45.00(e) Dealer num…

An owner of more than one livery boat shall be entitled to be awarded certificates of number for all such vessels on the payment of fees provided in Section 59-21-25. Each vessel shall have a separate and distinct number and shall be issued a separate certificate of number. Certi…

Each person registering a boat or boats under this chapter may at the same time register with the commission the serial numbers of all outboard motors owned by said person.

(a) As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:(a) “Commission” means the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.(b) “Length” means the length of the vessel measured from end to end over the deck excluding sheer.(c) “Livery b…

No person shall remove, change or in any manner mutilate or deface any number awarded a vessel, or any motor number or other stamped, cast, or forged numbers or letters or other marks upon any vessel, outboard motor, boat or boat trailer, or assist in so doing, or, having knowled…

All vessels, outboard motors, boats and trailers having awarded numbers or identification numbers or marks which have been removed, changed, mutilated or defaced contrary to this chapter are subject to forfeiture. Any such property shall be seized by any conservation officer or e…

(1) As used in this section:(a) “Direct molding process” means any process in which the original manufactured boat hull or component part of a boat is itself used as a plug for the making of the mold, which is then used to manufacture a duplicate item.(b) “Mold” means a matrix or…

(1) All sailboats and every undocumented vessel equipped with propulsion machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion, using the territorial and navigable waters of the State of Mississippi, and every such vessel owned in the State of Mississippi…

In the case of a boating accident involving collision, accident or other casualty involving a motorboat or vessel subject to this chapter, while operated upon the waters of this state, the operator thereof, if the collision, accident or other casualty results in death to any pers…

(1) Whenever death results from a boating accident, a written report shall be submitted within forty-eight (48) hours. For every other reportable boating accident a written report shall be submitted within five (5) days after such accident. The operator(s) of the boat(s) shall pr…

(1) It shall be the duty of the operator of any vessel involved in a boating accident to remain at the scene of such accident until he has rendered all necessary aid and assistance, including the carrying or the making of arrangements for the carrying of any person involved in su…

The numbering pattern to be used shall be as follows: The number shall be divided into three (3) parts. The first part shall consist of the symbol MI; the second part shall consist of a numerical group having a maximum of four (4) digits; the third part shall consist of an alphab…

(1) Every vessel shall have on board a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device for each person aboard such vessel, and every person twelve (12) years or younger on board a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel which measures less than twenty-six (26) feet in length shall wear a t…

No vessel shall be operated within this state in a reckless or negligent manner or at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the then existing circumstances or when the operator is so physically or mentally incapacitated as to be incapable of safely operatin…

(1) (a) No motorboat required to be numbered under this chapter shall be operated by any person who is under the age of twelve (12) years, unless he possesses a certificate as required under this section and is also accompanied by a parent, guardian or other person who is at leas…

No person shall operate a motorboat on any waters of this state while towing a person on water skis, or on an aquaplane or similar device, without an observer in the boat in addition to the operator. Such observer shall be above ten years of age. The provisions of the first parag…

(1) It is unlawful for any person, other than a law enforcement officer on duty, to use or display oscillating or rotating blue lights on a vessel operating on the public waters of this state. Upon the approach of an authorized law enforcement vessel operating a strobe, rotating …

(1) The number awarded shall be painted on or attached to each side of the bow of the vessel for which it was issued. The numbers shall be placed on each side of the forward half of the vessel in such position as to provide clear legibility for identification. The numbers shall r…