ARIZONA BOATING AND ALCOHOL LAWS

It is illegal in the state of Arizona for any person to operate or be in actual physical control of a motorized boat that is underway while under the influence of an intoxicating liquor, any drug, or a vapor releasing substance which causes them to be impaired.

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

• They have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.08, but less than 0.15.  
• An ‘Extreme OUI’ is operating with a BAC level of 0.15 but less than 0.20.
• A ‘Super Extreme OUI’ is a BAC of 0.20 and higher.

FINES AND PENALTIES

A person convicted of operating a boat while under the influence can be fined up to $3,150 and can also receive a jail sentence of up to 45 days. Any subsequent violations are punishable by more severe penalties.

ARIZONA BOAT REGISTRATION

All motorized boats must be registered in order to be legally operated, anchored, or moored on Arizona state waters.

Arizona has staggered registration, which is similar to registering a motor vehicle. The color and date on the registration decals indicates when the registration will expire.

Upon registration, boat owners will be issued an Arizona Certificate of Number, and registration decals. The Certificate of Number must be carried on board at all times during operation and must be available for inspection by law enforcement, if required.

An Arizona Certificate of Number and validation decals are obtained through the Arizona Game and Fish Department by submitting an application and paying a fee. 

THESE VESSELS DO NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION IN ARIZONA

• Human-powered boats.
• Boats that have been federally documented by the Coast Guard.
• Boats that are used solely as lifeboats.
• Boats that have been registered in another state or country, that are operating on Arizona waterways for 90 consecutive days or less.

BOAT TITLING REQUIREMENTS

The Department of Motor Vehicles issues titles to all 1987 model year and newer boats which are at least 14 feet in length. The title is your proof of ownership which must be surrendered to a new owner at the time of transfer. If your boat is less than 14 feet, then the registration certificate serves as the proof of ownership and must be signed over to a new owner.

OTHER REGISTRATION INFORMATION

If a boat is sold or there is a transfer of ownership, the new owner is required to notify the Arizona Game Fish and Department within 15 days. If a boat owner changes their address, they are required to notify the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) within 15 days of an address change.

If a boat is stolen, the event must be reported to law enforcement within 15 days of the theft.

If a Certificate of Number is lost or destroyed, boat owners may obtain a duplicate through the AZGFD for a fee of $2.

Boats in Arizona  are not required to be insured, however it is recommended.

Boats in Arizona are required to correctly display their registration number and validation stickers. 

Registration numbers and stickers must be displayed as follows:

• The number must be painted or permanently affixed to the forward half of each side of the boat where it can be easily seen (boat owners are not permitted to display any other numbers in this area).
• The number must be read from left to right.
• The number must be in vertical, 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.
• Validation decals must be affixed 3 inches from the registration number, on both sides of the forward half of the boat.
• The same placement requirements apply to personal watercraft (PWCs).

BOAT SPEED LIMITS AND OPERATION IN RESTRICTED AREAS

It is illegal to operate a boat in excess of the posted speed limit or at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the prevailing conditions and potential hazards. In every event, speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person or other boat, swamping other boats or otherwise endangering the lives or property of other people.

RECKLESS OR NEGLIGENT BOAT OPERATION

It is illegal in the state of Arizona to operate a watercraft in such a manner as to show willful or wanton disregard for other persons or property.

Examples of reckless or negligent operation include:

• Weaving through congested boat traffic.
• Operating a boat in a restricted area.
• Riding on the gunwales, transom or decked over bow of a boat that is operating at greater than no wake speed.
• Operating with a  passenger or passengers on the bow, in a manner which obstructs the view of the operator.
• Chasing, harassing or disturbing wildlife.
• Platform dragging (or teak surfing).

NON-NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES

Aquatic hitchhikers (also known as nuisance and invasive species):

• Are not native to Arizona.
• Include both plants (such as salvinia, hydrilla), animals (such as zebra mussels, crayfish and New Zealand mudsnails) and diseases and pathogens.
• Cause physical and economic damages to our recreational, commercial, environmental, cultural or historic resources and/or create public health problems.
• Can impair water resources. Water is life in the desert and aquatic nuisance species that impair water resources, wildlife health, water quality or water conveyance, threaten us all.

AIS are a serious threat to Arizona’s recreational boating and angling, as well as the state’s water and electrical infrastructure. Arizona’s boaters must understand and comply with efforts to contain and prevent AIS from spreading to other waterways.

HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF NON-NATIVE SPECIES

Preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species is the most environmentally sound and cost-effective method for battling aquatic hitchhikers. Prevent Aquatic Nuisance Species by doing the following:

• Clean all recreational equipment before and after using all waters.
• Do not release or put plants, fish or other animals into a body of water unless they came out of that body of water (also do not release them into storm drains, because most storm drains lead to bodies of water or wetlands).
• Do not release unused bait into waters (make sure to check regulations before using bait).
• Do not release anything from an aquarium into any body of water or storm drain.