Effective: September 14, 2016
Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 293 - 131st General Assembly
(A) A natural resources officer shall conduct educational programs in vessel safety, sanitation, and operation and in other related subjects that the director of natural resources, in consultation with the chief of the division of parks and watercraft, considers appropriate or necessary.
(B) Except as authorized by division (C) of this section, no natural resources officer or other law enforcement officer as described in section 1547.63 of the Revised Code shall stop or board any vessel solely for the purpose of conducting a safety inspection of the vessel unless the owner or operator voluntarily requests the officer to conduct a safety inspection of the vessel.
(C) A natural resources officer or other law enforcement officer as described in section 1547.63 of the Revised Code may stop, board, and conduct a safety inspection of any vessel if either of the following applies:
(1) The officer has a reasonable suspicion that the vessel, the vessel's equipment, or the vessel's operator is in violation of this chapter or rules or is otherwise engaged in a violation of a law of this state or a local ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulation adopted in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 1547. of the Revised Code within the territorial jurisdiction of the officer;
(2) The officer is conducting a vessel safety inspection in the course of an authorized checkpoint operation in accordance with rules.