Section 462A.26. Right-of-way rules — speed and distance rules — zoning water areas.

  1.  Vessel traffic shall be governed by the following rules:

  a.  Passing from rear — keep to the operator’s left.

  b.  Passing head on — keep to the operator’s right.

  c.  Passing at right angles — vessel at the right has the right-of-way.

  d.  Manually propelled vessels have the right-of-way over all other vessels.

  e.  Sailboats have the right-of-way over all motor driven vessels. Motorboats, when meeting or overtaking sailboats, shall always pass on the leeward side.

  f.  Any vessel backing from a landing has the right-of-way over incoming vessels.

  g.  When necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare due to the physical nature and characteristics of any waters under the jurisdiction of the commission, the commission may promulgate further rules governing vessel traffic on such waters.

  2.  The commission may adopt rules governing all activities on waters and ice of this state under the jurisdiction of the commission, including impoundments constructed by or in cooperation with the federal government, when necessary and desirable to permit appropriate utilization of specific water areas, consistent with section 462A.3. The rules may include rules relating to the following:

  a.  Zoning as to area, activity, vessel, or vehicle, speed, and time of day during which specified activities are permitted.

  b.  Horsepower, size, and types of vessels and vehicles which may be operated.

  c.  Safety precautions and practices required.

  3.  Except as provided in special rules promulgated under this chapter, the following speed and distance regulations apply:

  a.  On all waters under the jurisdiction of the commission:

  (1)  A motorboat shall not be operated at speeds greater than five miles per hour when within one hundred feet of another craft traveling at five miles per hour or less.

  (2)  Motorboats shall maintain a minimum passing or meeting distance of fifty feet when both boats are traveling at speeds greater than five miles per hour.

  (3)  A motorboat shall not be operated at a speed exceeding ten miles per hour unless vision is unobstructed at least two hundred feet ahead.

  b.  On all inland lakes and federal impoundments under the jurisdiction of the commission, a motorboat shall not be operated within three hundred feet of shore at a speed greater than ten miles per hour.

[C39, §1703.14; C46, 50, 54, 58, §106.14; C62, 66, §106.26; C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §106.26, 106.31;

82 Acts, ch 1028, §22

]

2011 Acts, ch 25, §57

For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8B, subsection 1, paragraph b