The mission of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is to conserve and enhance Mississippi’s wildlife, fisheries, and parks, provide quality outdoor recreation, and engage the public in natural resource conservation.
MISSISSIPPI’S BOATING RULES AND REGULATIONS OVERVIEW
Age and Operator Restrictions: Those younger than 12 years of age must be accompanied on board by someone who is at least 21 years old.
Mississippi General Boating Rules & Regulations
A Federal Regulation went into effect May 1, 1995, which requires operators of all boats to have at least one wearable life jacket or personal flotation device, for each person aboard. Under the new regulation a throwable PFD (Type IV) will no longer qualify as a life jacket on boats less than 16 feet. PFD requirements remain unchanged on boats 16 feet and over.
Section 59-21-31 of the Mississippi Code, prohibits the removal or alteration of awarded numbers or identification numbers affixed to vessels, boats, outboard motors, and trailers has been amended. Additional language added to this section provides that no person may buy, sell, or possess a vessel, boat, outboard motor, or trailer on which any awarded number or identification number has been removed or altered.
Due to the increase in marine theft, a closer look is being taken at applications for boat registration when received. Applications for boat registration with required information missing or information which appears to be incorrect, will be sent back to the applicant along with a boat inspection form to be completed by a conservation officer. The application should then be resubmitted along with the completed boat inspection form. All home-made boats will be inspected prior to registration.
The Alcohol Boating Safety Act makes it unlawful to operate a watercraft on the public waters of the State of Mississippi while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any other substance which has impaired the person’s ability to operate a watercraft.
- As a condition of operating a watercraft on the public waters of this state, the person operating the watercraft is deemed to have given consent to testing for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of his blood.
- “Watercraft” is defined as any motorized vessel with a motor of twenty-five horsepower or greater used for transportation on public waters, and any personal watercraft (jet skis).
- “Public waters” is defined as all public waters over which the State of Mississippi has jurisdiction.
- Penalties for conviction under this law are:
a). First conviction – Fine no less than $250.00 nor more than $1,000.00, or imprisonment in jail for not more than 24 hours or both. Violator must complete a boating safety course.
b). Second conviction (within a five-year period) – Fine no less than $600.00 nor more than $1,000.00; and imprisonment not less than 48 consecutive hours nor more than one year or community service work for not less than ten days nor more than one year. Court shall order violator not to operate a watercraft for one year.
c). Third conviction (within a five-year period) – Fine no less than $800.00 nor more than $1,000.00; and imprisonment not less than thirty days nor more than one year. Court shall order violator not to operate a watercraft for two years.
d). Conviction of a fourth or subsequent violation (within a five-year period) is a FELONY OFFENSE. Fine no less than $2,000.00 nor more than $5,000.00; and imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than ninety days nor more than five years. Court shall order violator not to operate a watercraft for three years.
Effective July 1, 1997, any person born after June 30, 1980 must complete a Boating Safety Course to operate a boat. Persons under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a person 21 or older on board the boat in order to operate the boat.
For persons who wish to learn more about Mississippi Boating Basics and the legal and safe practices for boat operators, a six hour instructor taught course is available for groups. The Mississippi Boating Basics home-study course is available for persons who are unable to attend an instructor taught course. Most insurance companies honor these courses by offering reductions in insurance premiums on completion.
BOAT REGISTRATION
Mississippi law requires all sailboats and every undocumented vessel equipped with propulsion machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion, using the territorial and navigable waters of the State of Mississippi to be registered and numbered for identification. No person may operate or give permission for the operation of any boat powered by machinery unless it is registered and numbered in accordance with the law. The owner of any vessel required to be numbered has ten (10) days from the date for acquisition to register the boat.
You must have a Mississippi Certificate Number and validation decals to legally operate your vessel on public waters in Mississippi if your boat is motorized or if your boat is a sailboat. The validation decal must be affixed on both sides of the vessel, preceding the prefix letters of the registration number and within six inches of the registration number. If your vessel requires registration, it is illegal to operate or allow others to operate your vessel unless it is registered and numbered as described above.
The Certificate of Number must be onboard and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is operated.
If a registered vessel is sold or otherwise transferred to another person, the “buyer” must apply for the Certificate of Number to be transferred to his or her name within 10 days of the date of purchase.
Owners of new or used boats may obtain a registration form at any local county tax collector’s office, most places where boats are sold or serviced, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources office, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks district and Jackson offices, or online at www.mdwfp.com.
BOATING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
All persons born after June 30, 1980, must have passed a boating education course approved by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to legally operate a vessel.
In addition, to operate a motorboat or a personal watercraft, a person under 12 years of age must also be accompanied onboard by someone who is at least 21 years old. The boating education certificate must be carried onboard the vessel whenever it is operated by someone required to have a certificate.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Marine Patrol offers free approved boating education classes to the public along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
The Alcohol Boating Safety Act makes it unlawful to operate a watercraft on the public waters of the State of Mississippi while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any other substance which has impaired the person’s ability to operate a watercraft.
PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD)
All vessels must carry one wearable U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD for each person onboard. In addition, vessels 16 feet in length or longer must have one Type IV U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD onboard and readily accessible.
Anyone12 years of age and younger must wear a Type I, II or III U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD whenever underway in a vessel under 26 feet in length. Each person riding on or being towed behind a personal watercraft must wear a Type I, II or III U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD.
Besides being U.S. Coast Guard-approved, all PFDs must be:
- In good and serviceable condition;
- Readily accessible, which means you are able to put the PFD on quickly in an emergency; and
- Of the proper size for the intended wearer. (Sizing for PFDs is based on body weight and chest size.)
TYPES OF PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES
Boating experts agree that wearing a PFD is the most important safety step you can take.
TYPE 1
TYPE II
TYPE III
TYPE IV
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
All vessels are required to have a Type B fire extinguisher onboard if one or more of the following conditions exist:
- Closed compartments under seats where portable fuel tanks are stored;
- Closed storage compartments in which flammable or combustible materials are stored;
- Closed living spaces;
- Permanently installed fuel tanks.
Approved types of fire extinguishers are labeled “Marine Type USCG Approved,” followed by the size and type symbols and the approved number.
SOUND DEVICE
Any vessel less than 39.4 feet (12 meters) in length is required to make an efficient sound signal (horn, whistle or bell) to signal your position in periods of reduced visibility. Vessel operators are required to carry some type of horn or whistle capable of a four-second blast audible for one-half mile for all boats. Athletic whistles are not acceptable on boats over 39.4 feet.
VISUAL DISTRESS SIGNAL
All boats less than 16 feet operating between sunset and sunrise must be equipped with visual distress signals such as flares. Boats larger than 16 feet must always be equipped with visual distress signals.
All boats used on federally controlled waters must be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard-approved (day and night) visual distress signals. All boats on federal waters are required to carry night signals when operating between sunset and sunrise. In addition, the following boats must also carry day signals:
- Recreational boats 16 feet or longer
- Non-motorized, open sailboats 26 feet or longer
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT AND TOWING REQUIREMENTS
- Each person riding on or towed behind a personal watercraft (PWC) must wear a Type I, II or III Coast Guard-approved PFD in Mississippi waters south of I-10.
- The PWC must be equipped with a self-circling device or lanyard-type ignition-safety switch with the lanyard attached to the operator’s person, clothing or PFD.
- The PWC may not be operated at an excessive speed within 100 feet of another occupied vessel except in a crossing situation or overtaking in accordance with the navigation rules.
- The PWC may not jump, or attempt to jump, the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that vessel and may not follow within 100 feet of a water skier.
- Every vessel towing a person(s) on water skis, a surfboard or a similar device must have a person older than 10 years of age, in addition to the operator, observing the towed person(s) at all times.
- If towing a person behind a PWC, the PWC must be rated for at least three people—the driver, the observer and the person being towed.
MARINE LITTER STICKER
The Marine Litter Act of 1989 prohibits the dumping of waste, garbage and other debris from vessels within Mississippi state waters. This includes any type of plastics, such as synthetic rope, fishing nets or garbage bags. Other garbage prohibited includes paper products, glass, metal dunnage, lining and packing materials.
CMR Title 22 Part 10 requires all vessels (including personal watercrafts) on Mississippi marine waters have a clearly marked, closed container for the proper disposal of waste. Throwing waste overboard is punishable with a fine of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $10,000 for the second.
While in marine waters, the marine litter sticker below must be posted on-board vessels and in the passengers’ plain view.
Marine Litter Stickers are free and available at various bait shops, Walmart and Academy stores in the three coastal counties.
BACKFIRE FLAME ARRESTOR, VENTILLATION SYSTEM AND MUFFLER
The requirements vary depending on the size of your vessel. Click here to view our Required Equipment Checklist by vessel.
BOATING CHECKLIST
Before you go out on the water, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks would like to make you aware of everything you need to know for an enjoyable and safe boating experience. The following is a boating check list that will guide you to an enjoyable boating experience.
- Valid boating registration (onboard vessel)
- Valid numbers displayed on side of vessel (At least 3 inches tall with contrasting colors to hull).
- Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device sized to fit, for every person on Board.
- Vessel 16′ or larger must have a Coast Guard approved throwable device.
- Vessel must have a fire extinguisher if it has an enclosed gas compartment.
- Vessel must have a sound device if operating on navigable waters.
- Anyone 12 years and younger must wear a Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device at all times while the vessel is underway.
- Boater Education/Safety card for all operators who were born on or after June 30, 1980.
For more information related to BOATING and Boating Safety Classes, call (601)-432-2178 or write to: BOATING ENFORCEMENT, P. O. Box 451, Jackson, MS 39205-0451.