(1) The provisions of Title 50 and other applicable laws of this State shall govern the operation, equipment, titling, numbering, and all other matters relating thereto for watercraft and water devices using or held for use on the waters of this State; but nothing in this chapter may be construed to prevent the adoption of any ordinance or local law relating to operation and equipment of watercraft; provided, that the ordinances or local laws shall be operative only so long as and to the extent that they are identical to provisions of this chapter, amendments thereto, or regulations issued thereunder.
(2) Any subdivision of this State may, at any time, but only after three days' public notice make formal application to the department for special rules and regulations with reference to the operation of vessels on any waters within its territorial limits and shall set forth therein the reasons which make such special rules and regulations necessary or appropriate.
(3) The department is hereby authorized to make special rules and regulations with reference to the operation of vessels on waters within the territorial limits of this State.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 70-295.2; 1955 (49) 299; 1959 (51) 409; 1972 (57) 2791; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1269; 2008 Act No. 344, Section 3, eff six months after approval (approved June 11, 2008).
Effect of Amendment
The 2008 amendment, in subsection (1), substituted "Title 50" for "this chapter", added 'titling", substituted "for watercraft and water devices using or held for use on" for "whenever any vessel shall be operated on" and "watercraft;" for "vessels the provisions of which are identical to the provisions of this chapter, amendments thereto, or regulations issued thereunder;" and made nonsubstantive language changes.