Section 33-13-108 - Prohibited vessel operations - rules(1)(a) No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of a vessel: (I) Which is not equipped as required by this article or rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto;(II) Which emits noise in excess of the permissible level established in standards promulgated by the commission in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S.;(III) Above a wakeless speed in areas zoned as wakeless, as defined by commission rule;(IV) In a manner that violates any rule promulgated by the commission for safe use and operation of vessels.(a.5) No person shall operate a personal watercraft between one half hour after sunset and one half hour before sunrise.(b) Any person who violates subsection (1)(a) or (1)(a.5) of this section commits a civil infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of one hundred dollars.(2)(a) It is unlawful for any person to operate a vessel in a careless or imprudent manner without due regard for zoning, traffic, and other attendant circumstances or as to endanger any person, property, or wildlife. For purposes of this paragraph (a), careless or imprudent vessel operation includes, but is not limited to, the following: (I) Becoming airborne or completely leaving the water while crossing the wake of another vessel at an unsafe distance from the vessel creating the wake or when visibility around such vessel is obstructed;(II) Unsafely weaving through vessel traffic;(III) Operating at such a speed and proximity to another vessel so as to require the operator of either vessel to abruptly swerve or to abruptly cut speed in order to avoid collision.(b) Any person who violates subsection (2)(a) of this section commits a petty offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of two hundred dollars.(3) It is unlawful for any person to operate a vessel in a reckless manner. Any person who violates this subsection (3) commits a class 2 misdemeanor.Amended by 2021 Ch. 462,§572, eff. 3/1/2022.Amended by 2019 Ch. 423,§21, eff. 7/1/2019.L. 84: Entire article added, p. 902, § 2, effective January 1, 1985. L. 89: (4) amended, p. 1359, § 2, effective July 1. L. 95: (1)(b) and (2) amended, p. 972, § 19, effective July 1. L. 97: (1)(a)(IV) and (1)(a.5) added and (1)(b), (2), and (3) amended, p. 1606, §§ 4, 5, effective June 4. L. 2003: (3) and (4) amended, p. 1947, § 20, effective May 22. L. 2008: (4) repealed, p. 645, § 1, effective August 5. L. 2012: (1)(a)(II), (1)(a)(III), and (1)(a)(IV) amended, (HB 12-1317), ch. 1226, p. 1226, § 59, effective June 4. L. 2019: (1)(b) and (2)(b) amended, (HB 19-1026), ch. 3697, p. 3697, § 21, effective July 1. L. 2021: (1)(b), (2)(b), and (3) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 3265, p. 3265, § 572, effective March 1, 2022.(1) This section is similar to former § 33-31-107 as it existed prior to 1984.
(2) Section 803(2) of chapter 462 (SB 21-271), Session Laws of Colorado 2021, provides that the act changing this section applies to offenses committed on or after March 1, 2022.
2021 Ch. 462, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3). For the short title ("Respect the Great Outdoors Act") and the legislative declaration in HB 19-1026, see sections 1 and 2 of chapter 423, Session Laws of Colorado 2019.