67-7031. MARKING OF WATER AREAS — PROCEDURES — LOCAL RULES. (1) The department may make or adopt appropriate rules for the marking of the water areas in this state through the placement of aids to navigation and regulatory markers. Such rules shall establish a marking system of aids to navigation prescribed by the United States Coast Guard and shall give due regard to the system of uniform waterway markers approved by the advisory panel of state officials to the merchant marine council of the United States Coast Guard. No city, county, other political subdivision or other person shall mark the waters of this state in any manner in conflict with the marking system prescribed by the department or without the specific authority of the department.
(2) The provisions of this chapter shall govern the operation, equipment, numbering and all other matters relating thereto whenever any vessel shall be operated on the waters of this state or when any activity regulated by this chapter shall take place thereon. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the adoption of any ordinance or local law relating to operation and equipment of vessels, so long as such ordinances are not in conflict with the provisions of law.
(3) Any political subdivision of the state of Idaho may at any time, but only after sufficient public notice is given, adopt local ordinances with reference to the operation of vessels on any waters within its territorial limits or with reference to swimming within areas of intense or hazardous vessel traffic, provided the ordinances are intended to promote or protect the health, safety and general welfare of its citizenry.
(4) Any political subdivision of the state of Idaho may at any time, but only after sufficient public notice is given, adopt ordinances which establish operational zones for personal watercraft on any waters within its territorial limits. Personal watercraft operational zone designations are limited to:
(a) No wake or less than five (5) miles per hour;
(b) Personal watercraft only;
(c) No personal watercraft allowed; or
(d) Distance from shoreline.
History:
[67-7031, added 1986, ch. 207, sec. 2, p. 529; am. 1996, ch. 335, sec. 3, p. 1134.]