Title 15, Title 15. Conservation of Natural Resources

(A) All of the following are exempt from registration under this chapter:(1) Sailboards;(2) Kiteboards;(3) Paddleboards;(4) Belly boats or float tubes.(B) As used in this section:(1) "Belly boat" or "float tube" means an inflatable vessel with a built-in seat or harness that is p…

No person shall operate a watercraft in this state if it displays an identification number or registration decal that is any of the following: (A) Fictitious; (B) A counterfeit or an unlawfully made copy of any identification number or registration decal; (C) An identification nu…

(A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in section 1547.542 of the Revised Code, the owner of every watercraft requiring registration under this chapter shall file an application for a triennial registration certificate with the chief of the division of parks and watercraft on forms …

The owner of a watercraft that is more than twenty-five years old, is essentially as originally constructed, and is owned primarily as a collector's item and for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses, but is not used for general recreatio…

(A) Any person or organization owning any number of canoes, rowboats, inflatable watercraft, or sailboats for the purpose of rental to the public may apply with the chief of the division of parks and watercraft for and receive an annual certificate of livery registration. No wate…

(A) Any bona fide dealer in watercraft, or any manufacturer of watercraft, upon annual application to the division of parks and watercraft, may receive for each separate place of business a dealer or manufacturer registration certificate assigning a dealer number for use while op…

On receipt of a notice pursuant to section 3123.43 of the Revised Code, the division of parks and watercraft shall comply with sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 of the Revised Code and any applicable rules adopted under section 3123.63 of the Revised Code with respect to a certificate …

All moneys collected by the chief of the division of parks and watercraft under this chapter shall be paid into the waterways safety fund established in section 1547.75 of the Revised Code. All expenses for salaries, operation, and administration of the division relating to boati…

All applications for a registration certificate filed with the chief of the division of parks and watercraft shall bear a notation as to water principally used by the watercraft. The division of wildlife, conservancy districts, and other political subdivisions having impounded bo…

(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, when the chief of the division of parks and watercraft issues a registration certificate under section 1547.54 of the Revised Code, the chief also shall issue to the applicant two tags not larger than three inches …

When the chief of the division of parks and watercraft issues a registration certificate under section 1547.54 of the Revised Code, the chief also shall provide to the owner of the registered watercraft a disclosure statement regarding the requirements and procedures established …

The operator of a vessel involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty, so far as the operator can do so without serious danger to the operator's own vessel, crew, and passengers, shall render to other persons affected by the collision, accident, or other casualty such ass…

This chapter and other applicable laws of this state govern the operation, equipment, registration, numbering, and all other matters relating thereto whenever any vessel is operated on the waters in this state, whether the waters are under the jurisdiction and control of a state …

Every sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, member of the organized police department of any municipal corporation, police constable of any township, wildlife officer, natural resources officer, conservancy district police officer, and other law enforcement officer, w…

(A) A watercraft constructed on or after November 1, 1972, shall have a hull identification number permanently displayed and affixed to it in accordance with federal law.(B) A watercraft constructed before November 1, 1972, shall have a hull identification number assigned to it b…

No person shall deface or alter any serial number, model designation, or other identifying mark on any watercraft or motor as placed thereon by the manufacturer thereof, or remove, deface, or alter the registration number of any watercraft as the registration number appears on th…

The division of parks and watercraft, with the approval of the director of natural resources, may expend, for the purpose of assisting political subdivisions, conservancy districts, and state departments to establish or maintain and operate a marine patrol for the purpose of enfo…

To assist political subdivisions, conservancy districts, state departments, or nonprofit organizations in establishing or participating in boating safety education programs, the division of parks and watercraft, with the approval of the director of natural resources, may expend m…

(A) As used in this section: (1) "Firearm," "concealed handgun license," "handgun," "valid concealed handgun license," and "active duty" have the same meanings as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code. (2) "Unloaded" has the same meanings as in divisions (K)(5) and (6) of sectio…

The division of parks and watercraft shall act as the refuge and small boat harbor agency of the state for the purpose of participating with, and co-operating with the department of the army, corps of engineers, pursuant to the enabling provisions in the act known as the "Fletche…

(A) The division of parks and watercraft, whenever it considers it in the best interests of the state, and as an aid to lake commerce and navigation or recreational boating, may construct, maintain, repair, and operate refuge harbors and other projects for the harboring, mooring,…

There is hereby created in the division of parks and watercraft a waterways safety council composed of five members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Not more than three of such appointees shall belong to the same political party. Terms of offic…

Facilities in harbors and connecting waterways established under sections 1546.021, 1547.71, and 1547.72 of the Revised Code shall be open to all on equal and reasonable terms.

There is hereby created in the state treasury the waterways safety fund. The fund shall consist of money credited to it under this chapter and Chapters 1546. and 1548. of the Revised Code. The fund shall be used for boating-related activities under those chapters and for purposes…

In addition to the other matters contained therein, sections 1547.71 to 1547.77, inclusive, and section 5735.051 of the Revised Code, constitute prima-facie evidence by the state of the provisions for state participation in the federal program for construction of certain harbors …

Any action taken by the chief of the division of parks and watercraft under Chapters 1546. and 1547. relating to refuge and small boat harbors of the Revised Code shall not be deemed in conflict with certain powers and duties conferred upon and delegated to federal agencies and t…

All fines, forfeitures, and penalties arising from prosecutions, convictions, confiscations, or other actions commenced by department of natural resources law enforcement officers, including, but not limited to, wildlife officers and natural resources officers under this chapter …

(A) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, the division of parks and watercraft, in consultation with the department of public safety, shall adopt rules regarding the security of ports on waterways in this state and the facilities associated with those…

No person, with purpose to unlawfully damage, ground, or sink a vessel afloat, shall do any of the following:(A) Employ any false signal, buoy, or other aid to navigation;(B) Tamper with any signal, buoy, or other aid to navigation;(C) Do any act which creates an imminent and sub…

No person shall knowingly:(A) Damage, remove, or tamper with any signal, buoy, or other aid to navigation;(B) Sever the mooring lines of, set adrift, or tamper with any vessel that is moored or tied up on the waters in this state.

(A) Whoever violates section 1547.91 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree. (B) Whoever violates division (F) of section 1547.08, section 1547.10, division (I) of section 1547.111, section 1547.13, or section 1547.66 of the Revised Code is guilty of a mis…