The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 23 : Motor Vehicles
Chapter 029 : Snowmobiles, Vessels, and Water Sports
Subchapter 002 : VESSELS
(Cite as: 23 V.S.A. § 3316)-
§ 3316. Regattas; races; marine parades; tournaments; water skiing events or exhibitions; triathlons
(a) The Commissioner of Public Safety may authorize the holding of public regattas, motorboat or other vessel races, marine parades, tournaments, water skiing events, exhibitions, or triathlons on any waters of this State and any associated public roads. He or she shall adopt and may, from time to time, amend rules concerning the safety of motorboats and other vessels and individuals on these vessels, either observers or participants, and of individuals swimming, cycling, or running in or observing an event. Whenever a public regatta, motorboat or other vessel race, marine parade, tournament, water skiing event, exhibition, or triathlon is proposed to be held, the person in charge shall, at least 15 days prior to the event, file an application with the Department of Public Safety for permission to hold the regatta, motorboat or other vessel race, marine parade, tournament, water skiing event, exhibition, or triathlon. A copy of such application shall be sent to the municipality and organized lake association where the event is to be held 15 days in advance of the event to allow for comment. The application shall set forth the date, time, and location where it is proposed to hold the regatta, motorboat or other vessel race, marine parade, tournament, water skiing event, exhibition, or triathlon, and it shall not be conducted without authorization of the Department of Public Safety in writing, except that this provision shall not apply to unscheduled vessel races to which the public has not been invited.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not exempt any person from compliance with applicable federal law or regulation, but nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require the securing of a State permit if a permit has been obtained from an authorized agency of the United States. (Added 1983, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1985, No. 90, § 6, eff. Jan. 1, 1986; 1989, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1999, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 80, eff. May 24, 2000; 2021, No. 76, § 20.)
