Laws and Safety Equipment

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Chapter 2: Mississippi
Laws and Safety Equipment

LAW ENFORCEMENT

All peace officers of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the officers of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and other law enforcement officials of Mississippi are authorized, empowered and enjoined to enforce the provisions of the Mississippi boating laws within their respective jurisdictions.

In addition to the state law enforcement officers, the US Coast Guard enforces federal boating regulations on all navigable waters.

Use of oscillating or rotating blue lights on vessels

Only a law enforcement officer on duty may use or display oscillating or rotating blue lights on a vessel operating on the public waters of Mississippi. If approached by a law enforcement or marine patrol officer, slow down and bring your boat to a stop if it is safe to do so. Once stopped, wait for further directions from the officer. Generally, the officer will maneuver the patrol boat to you.

Definitions

"Commission" means the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

"Motorboat" means any undocumented vessel propelled by machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion. The term motorboat includes personal watercraft.

"Operate" means to navigate or otherwise use a motorboat or vessel.

"Operator" means the person who operates or who has charge of the navigation or use of a motorboat or a vessel.

"Owner" means the person who claims lawful possession of a vessel by virtue of legal title or equitable interest therein which entitles him to such possession.

"Person" means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, or other entity.

"Ships' lifeboats" means lifeboats used solely for lifesaving purposes and does not include dinghies, tenders, speedboats, or other type of craft carried aboard a vessel and used for other than lifesaving purposes.

"Undocumented vessel" means any vessel which is not required to have, and does not have, a valid marine document issued by the Bureau of Customs.

"Vessel" means every description of watercraft, other than seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

"Waters of this state" means any waters within the territorial limits of Mississippi, and the marginal sea adjacent to Mississippi and the high seas when navigated as a part of a journey or ride to or from the shore of Mississippi; however, "waters of this state" does not mean any private pond or lake which is not used for boat rentals or the charging of fees for fishing therein.