UNSAFE PRACTICES
The following acts and maneuvers are considered dangerous & illegal while boating in Wyoming.
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Careless Operation. It is illegal to operate a vessel in a manner that endangers the ability to conserve the safety, rights or property of others. The following are a few examples:
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Endangering others or their property, by allowing the wake of your vessel to potentially harm another or their property.
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Jumping the wake of a vessel unnecessarily close to another vessel.
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Failing to conform to boating signage such as posted speeds, indicated restricted entry zones, diver or skier down flags, etc.
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Operating at an unsafe speed. Boaters must always operate their vessel at a safe speed as discussed earlier in this chapter as well as adhering to any indicated speed limitations
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Failing to maintain adequate distance. Boaters must maintain the designated no wake speed in the circumstances discussed above as well as keeping their distance from water skiers or vessels towing someone on another device
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Exceeding maximum capacity. The recommended capacity indicated on the boats' capacity plate should not be exceeded.
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Not maintaining a lookout. All operators are required to keep a constant lookout for other vessels and/or people in the water.
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Dangerous operation. Boaters must make sure that the vessel is being operated in such a manner that its occupants or others sharing the water are not in any danger. If an officer observes that someone's safety may be endangered, the operator may be forced to head to the closest moorage. Examples of such operation could be: operating without all the required equipment, operating the vessel with more power than recommended, or operating the vessel with a fuel leak.
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Not maintaining proper seating regulation aboard your vessel. In Wyoming, it is unlawful to allow any person to ride or sit on the bow, gunwales, transom, or on the decking over the bow of the vessel while underway unless such motorboat is provided with adequate guards or railing to prevent passengers from falling overboard. Passengers or other persons aboard a vessel may occupy these areas of the vessel to moor or anchor the vessel, to cast off, or for any other necessary purpose.
For obvious safety reasons it is recommended that boaters do not stop or anchor beneath bridges or in a channel.
