Rhode Island Boating Laws and Regulations

Rhode Island boating laws require that if you were born on or after January. 1, 1986, and will be operating a motorized vessel over 10 hp in Rhode Island you need education. You also need education if you will be operating a Personal Watercraft (PWC).

All boaters are required to have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket on board for every passenger on their boat. Boating safety advocates recommend that all boaters and passengers not only have a life jacket, but ‘Wear It!’ at all times while boating. Accidents on the water can happen much too fast to reach and put on a stowed life jacket.

On recreational boats underway in Rhode Island, children under 13 years old must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket unless they are below decks or in an enclosed cabin.

You need boater education if you will be operating a Personal Watercraft (PWC).

It is illegal in the state of Rhode Island to operate any boat while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination thereof.

In Rhode Island, a person is considered to be under the influence if:

• They have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.08% or higher.

No person under 21 years of age may operate a boat, waterskis or similar device who has 0.02% or more of alcohol in his or her blood by weight.

In Rhode Island, a person convicted of operating under the influence will be subject to the following penalties.

• They may receive a $100-$250 fine.
• They may lose the right to operate a boat for up to 45 days.
• They may receive 10-60 hours of community service.
• They may be required to attend a Boating Safety Course.
• They may have to pay a $500 boating safety assessment fee

• They may receive a $100-$300 fine and/or imprisonment for up to one year.
• They may lose the right to operate a boat for 3-6 months.
• They may receive 10-60 hours of community service.
• They may be required to attend a Boating Safety Course and/or an alcohol/drug treatment class.
• They may have to pay a $500 boating safety assessment fee.

• The suspension of motor vehicle operator’s license for one year.
• The suspension of the right to operate a boat for an additional period of 3-6 months.
• The suspension of the owner’s/operator’s registration of the boat that was being operated at the time of this chapter’s violation.

Note: If an operator is convicted of BUI and there is a child under 13 years of age on board at the time of arrest, the boat may be imprisoned for up to 1 year (this imprisonment cannot be deferred or suspended).

Any person operating a boat on Rhode Island waterways shall be deemed to have given consent to a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine for the purpose of determining the alcohol content. Refusal to submit to testing can result in penalties.

Boating laws in Rhode Island are enforced by:

• The Department of Environmental Management.
• Harbor masters and assistant harbormasters.
• Police officers authorized to make arrests.
• Employees of the Department of Environmental Management authorized.

These officers have the authority to stop and board any boat where they have probable cause to believe that a violation of law exists. Refusal to follow direction provided by law enforcement is illegal and will receive penalties.

An operator involved in a boating accident is required to:

• Stop their boat at the scene.
• Render assistance to any person who has been injured or who is in danger so long as they can do so without risking their safety or their passenger’s safety.
• Provide their name, address and boat information in writing to any person who was injured, and to the owner of any property that was damaged as a result of the accident.

Operators involved in a boating accident which results in any of the following circumstances must immediately notify the Department of Environmental Management or a nearby office of local or state police:

• If a person is killed.
• If a boat is stolen or vandalized (with a value of $2,000).
• If a person is injured and requires medical attention beyond first aid.

Boat accident report forms must be submitted to the Department of Environmental Management within 24 hours of the accident.

When a person is seriously injured due to reckless operation, the operator will be charged with “operating so as to endanger, resulting in personal injury” and be imprisoned for up to 5 years.

When a person dies as a result of an injury received by the operation of any boat in reckless disregard of the safety of others, the person operating the boat will be guilty of “operating so as to endanger, resulting in death” and shall be imprisoned for up to 10 years.

Boat Accident Report Forms may be obtained from Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management.

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/enforce/pdfs/boatacc.pdf

In order to legally operate a motorized boat in Rhode Island, you must obtain a Certificate of Number (registration card) and validation decals. The Certificate of Number must be on board during operation and be available for inspection by an enforcement officer.

Exemptions:

• A boat that is properly registered in another state using Rhode Island waters for 90 days or less.
• Boats from another country temporarily using Rhode Island waters.
• A ships lifeboats.
• Boats used only for racing.
• A human-powered rowboat less than 12 feet in length.
• A canoe or kayak.
• A ferry.

Outboard engines also must be registered in Rhode Island. This is a one-time registration that does not expire.

Rhode Island registers boats on a 2-year basis with an option to register boats greater than 30 feet on an annual basis for half the 2-year fee. A registration year is March 1st through the last day of February of the following year. The Certificate of Number may be obtained by submitting an application and fee to the following address:

Department of Environmental Management

Licensing and Registration

235 Promenade Street

Providence, RI 02908

Telephone: 401-222-6647

You are required to notify the Department of Environmental Management within 15 days if any of the following occur:

• There is a change of address.
• There is a change of boat ownership.
• The boat is destroyed or abandoned.
• The boat is stolen or recovered.

Lost or destroyed Certificates of Number can be replaced. You must complete and submit a form and a processing fee within 30 days.

If boat ownership changes, a new registration application must be filed within 30 days (the registration number assigned to the boat will remain the same).

• The number must be applied as a decal, painted or permanently affixed to the forward half of each side of the boat (boat owners are not permitted to display any other numbers in this area).
• The number must be in bold block letters that are at least 3 inches high and in a color that contrasts with the color of the boat.
• The numbers must be separated from the letters by a hyphen or by an equivalent space.
• The number must be read from left to right.
• The number must be visible from at least 100 feet away.
• Validation decals must be affixed on both sides of the boat and placed to the right of and in line with the registration number.
• The same placement requirements apply to personal watercraft (PWCs).

Rhode Island requires all boats to be titled.

Exemptions include:

• A ships lifeboats.
• Human-powered inflatable boats.
• Surfboards.
• Rowboats.
• Boats that have been federally documented by the Coast Guard.
• Boats less than 14 feet in length.

For more information about safe boating in Rhode Island, contact the Department at:

Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management

Licensing and Registration

235 Promenade Street

Providence, RI 02908

Telephone: 401-222-6647