TEXAS BOATING AND ALCOHOL LAWS

It is illegal to operate any boat (including boats, personal watercraft (PWCs), waterskis, sailboats, sailboards or other similar devices) while under the influence of an impairing substance, such as alcohol or drugs.

In Texas, a person is considered to be intoxicated if they:

• Have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher.

PENALTIES FOR DRINKING AND BOATING

In Texas, a person convicted of boating under the influence will be subject to the following penalties:

First conviction:

• A fine of up to $2,000 and/or;
• Imprisonment for up to 180 days.

Second conviction:

• A fine of up to $4,000 and/or;
• Imprisonment for up to 1 year.

Third conviction:

• A fine of up to $10,000 and/or ;
• Imprisonment from 2-10 years.

TEXAS BOAT REGISTRATION

To legally operate a boat, on public waters, in the state of Texas, you must obtain a Texas Certificate of Number and validation decals.

Once a boat has been registered, the owner will be provided with a Texas Certificate of Number and validation decals. The Certificate of Number must be carried on board the boat at all times during operation and must be available for inspection by law enforcement.

A Texas Certificate of Number can be obtained by submitting the required titles, applications and fees (in person or by mail) to the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. Certificates of Number are valid for 2 years. Boat owners will receive a renewal notice 3 months prior to the expiration of the certificate.

THESE VESSELS DO NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION IN TEXAS

• Human-powered craft such as canoes, kayaks, punts, rowboats, or rubber rafts (regardless of length).
• Wind-powered sailboats under 14 feet in length.
• Boats that have been registered in another state that are using Texas waterways for 90 consecutive days or less.

BUYING OR SELLING A BOAT IN TEXAS

The rules for buying or selling a boat in the state of Texas may vary depending on if the boat is new or used. Be sure that you’re familiar with all of the regulations that apply if you are buying or selling a boat within the state of Texas. For more information on Texas regulations for buying or selling a boat, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/owner/buying_and_selling/

DO I NEED BOAT INSURANCE IN TEXAS?

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

Owners of boats in Texas must ensure that their registration number and decals are properly displayed on their boat. 

Registration Number and Decal Placement in Texas:

• The numbers must be painted or permanently affixed to each side of the boat’s bow (boat owners are not permitted to display any other numbers in this area).
• The numbers must be read from left to right.
• The registration number must be in block letters that are at least 3 inches high, and in a color that contrasts with the color of the boat.
• The letters or numbers of the registration number must be separated from the letters by a hyphen or by an equivalent space.
• Validation decals must be affixed to each side of the boat, in line with the registration number and 3 inches toward the stern.
• The placement requirements also apply to personal watercraft (PWCs).  

DO I NEED A BOATER EDUCATION CERTIFICATE? 

Operators of PWCs in the state of Texas are required to follow the same rules and regulations that apply to all motorized boat operators. Operators of PWCs are required to obtain and carry a Texas Boater Education Certificate in order to legally operate a PWC within the state. 

HOURS OF OPERATION

It is illegal to operate a PWC at night in the state of Texas. PWCs may legally be operated from sunset to sunrise. 

AGE REQUIREMENTS

Children who are under 13 years of age are prohibited from operating a PWC unless accompanied onboard by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who can lawfully operate the vessel. 

TEXAS PWC REGULATIONS

It is illegal in the state of Texas for any person to:

• Operate a PWC at night
• Operate a PWC within 50 feet of another PWC, boat, or person unless they operate at slow or idle speed
• Jump the wake of another vessel recklessly, or while unnecessarily close to the other boat

NON-NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES

In the state of Texas, it is illegal to possess or transport any exotic aquatic plant or animal listed as harmful or potentially harmful (an Aquatic Nuisance Species). This includes:

• Plants such as hydrilla, water hyacinth, and giant salvinia
• Fishes such as tilapia and Asian carps (grass, silver and bighead carp)
• Zebra mussels

Additionally, boaters in Texas are required to immediately remove and dispose of any harmful aquatic plant that is clinging or attached to their boat, motor vehicle, or other device used to transport or launch a boat. Illegal transport can result in a fine of $25-$500.

Help Prevent the Spread of non-native species

Unfortunately, Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) spread easily from one body of water to the next, which is why Texas recently enacted the following boating laws:

• Persons leaving or approaching public fresh water are required to drain all water from their vessels and on-board receptacles 
• Live fish, including personally caught live bait, cannot be transported from the water body where the fish were caught in or aboard a vessel in water from the water body where the fish were caught.