It shall be unlawful:
(a) For any person under 13 years of age to operate a boat powered by a motor greater than 15 horsepower, unless such operator is either accompanied by a person 16 years of age or older that is supervising the actions of such operator or unless such operator has successfully completed a boater education course conducted by the parks and wildlife department of the state;
(b) For any person to operate any boat or manipulate any water ski, paraski, windsurfer, aquaplane or similar device as to endanger any person or the property of another person;
(c) For any person to operate any boat at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the conditions and hazards, actual and potential, then existing, including weather and density of traffic, or greater than will permit him or her, in the exercise of ordinary care, to bring such boat to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead;
(d) For any person to operate a boat so as to create a hazardous wake or wash;
(e) For any person to operate a boat in a circular course around any other boat, any occupant of which is engaged in fishing, or in a circular course around any person swimming;
(f) For any person to swim or dive within 200 yards of any sightseeing or excursion boat except for maintenance purpose or unless such person is swimming within an enclosed area;
(g) For any person to operate a boat within a water area that the city or a political subdivision or the state has clearly marked by buoys or some other distinguishing device as a bathing, fishing, swimming or otherwise restricted area, or around any buoy or vessel that displays a “diver down” flag where persons may be scuba diving or snorkeling;
(h) For any person to operate a boat or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane or similar device while such person is intoxicated, or under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or while under the influence of any controlled substance as defined in the Texas Controlled Substances Act, Tex. Revised Civil Statutes Article 4476-15;
(i) For any person to manipulate any water skis, paraskis, aquaplane or similar device without wearing a life preserver or life belt. A person over the age of 14 who is operating a wind surfer is exempted from this requirement;
(j) For any person to operate a boat towing a person or persons on water skis, aquaplane, paraskis, windsurfer or similar device at any time between the hours of one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to boats or persons engaged in water skiing competitions, exhibitions or tournaments, if adequate lighting is provided for such activity;
(k) For any person to engage in water skiing, aquaplaning, paraskiing, windsurfing or similar activity at any time between the hours of one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to boats or persons engaged in water skiing competitions, exhibitions or tournaments, if adequate lighting is provided for such activity;
(l) For any person to operate a boat towing a person or persons on water skis, aquaplane, paraskis, windsurfer or similar device unless the boat is equipped with a rearview mirror of a size no less than four inches in measurement from bottom to top and across from one side to the other. The mirror shall be mounted firmly so as to give the boat operator a full and complete view beyond the rear of the boat at all times. Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to boats used in water skiing competitions, exhibitions or tournaments, or to boats that, in addition to the operators, have on board a person 13 years of age or older observing the progress of the person being towed;
(m) For any person to engage in water skiing, aquaplaning, paraskiing, windsurfing or similar activity when being towed by boat not equipped with a rearview mirror of a size no less than four inches in measurement from bottom to top and across from one side to the other. The mirror shall be mounted firmly to give the boat operator a full and complete view beyond the rear of the boat at all times. Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to boats used in water skiing competitions, exhibitions or tournaments, or to boats that, in addition to the operator, have on board a person 13 years of age or older observing the progress of the person being towed;
(n) For any person to erect, build, construct, create or maintain, or cause to be erected, built, constructed, created or maintained a water ski ramp, floating platform or other similar structure on Lake Worth, without approval of the city;
(o) For any person to engage in water skiing, aquaplaning, paraskiing or similar activity by use of a water ski ramp on Lake Worth without approval of the city;
(p) For any person, firm, association of persons, corporation and every other organization operating a boat on the waters of Lake Worth to dispose into the waters of Lake Worth trash, body waste and excreta;
(q) For any person operating a boat to willfully fail or refuse to bring his or her boat to a no-wake speed, and subsequent stop, or to otherwise flee or attempt to elude a pursuing peace officer’s or lake officer’s boat, after being given a visual or audible signal to bring his or her boat to a stop. The signal given by the peace or lake officer may be by hand, voice, emergency red beacon light or siren. The officer giving such signal shall be in uniform, prominently displaying his or her badge of office, and his or her boat shall be appropriately marked showing it to be an official city boat;
(r) For any person operating a boat on the waters of Lake Worth to refuse to obey the directions of a peace or lake officer when such officer is acting pursuant to this article;
(s) For any person to operate a boat on Lake Worth that is unseaworthy;
(t) For any person to use a boat on Lake Worth as a place of abode;
(u) For any person to moor or attach a boat to a buoy, beacon, light marker, stake, flag or other aid to safe navigation placed upon the public water. No person may install, move, remove, displace, tamper with, damage or destroy markers or aids to safe navigation; and
(v) For an operator of a boat involved in an accident, collision or casualty:
(1) To fail to render to other affected persons such assistance as may be practicable and necessary to save them from or minimize any danger if the operator can do so without serious damage to his or her own boat, crew and passengers;
(2) To fail to give his or her name, address and identification of his or her boat in writing to any person injured and to the owner of any property damaged in the accident, collision or casualty; and
(3) To fail to file a full description of the accident, collision or casualty as required by state law.
(1964 Code, § 23-11) (Ord. 7339, § 1, passed 4-26-1976; Ord. 10770, § 5, passed 1-22-1991)