(A) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel, other than a commercial vessel or other vessel exempted by rules adopted under R.C. § 1547.52, on the waters in this municipality:
(1) That is 16 feet or greater in length without carrying aboard one type 1, 2, or 3 personal flotation device for each person aboard and one type 4 personal flotation device;
(2) That is less than 16 feet in length, including canoes and kayaks of any length, without carrying aboard one type 1, 2, or 3 personal flotation device for each person aboard.
(B) A type 5 personal flotation device may be carried in lieu of a type 1, 2, or 3 personal flotation device required under division (A) of this section.
(C) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any commercial vessel on the waters in this municipality:
(1) That is less than 40 feet in length and is not carrying persons for hire without carrying aboard at least one type 1, 2, or 3 personal flotation device for each person aboard;
(2) That is carrying persons for hire or is 40 feet in length or longer and is not carrying persons for hire without carrying aboard at least one type 1 personal flotation device for each person aboard;
(3) That is 26 feet in length or longer without carrying aboard at least one type 4 ring life buoy in addition to the applicable requirements of divisions (C)(1) and (C)(2) of this section.
(D) Each personal flotation device carried aboard a vessel, including a commercial vessel, pursuant to this section shall be Coast Guard approved and in good and serviceable condition, of appropriate size for the wearer, and readily accessible to each person aboard the vessel at all times.
(E) As used in this section, COMMERCIAL VESSEL means any vessel used in the carriage of any person or property for a valuable consideration whether flowing directly or indirectly from the owner, partner, or agent or any other person interested in the vessel. The term does not include any vessel that is manufactured or used primarily for noncommercial use or that is leased, rented, or chartered to another for noncommercial use.
(R.C. § 1547.25) (Rev. 2003)
(F) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(R.C. § 1547.99(F)) (Rev. 2002)