State Law vs. Federal Law

Registration and Titling Requirements:

Alabama requires that all mechanically propelled vessels, sailboats and boats for hire be registered with the local office of county Judge of Probate or License Commissioner. The following are exceptions:

• A vessel operating under a valid temporary Certificate of Number.
• A vessel not propelled by machinery, except sailboats and boats for hire (rental).
• Vessels having valid registration in another state and not remaining in Alabama waters for over 90 consecutive days.
• Commercially documented vessels.

Vessels that are documented for pleasure use are required to be registered with the state, but do not need to display the Alabama registration numbers on the bow. However, the current year decal should be placed in a conspicuous location on the vessel and the certificate shall be onboard when in operation.

Once properly registered, you will be issued a permanent registration number and issued a set of registration stickers valid for 1 year. You must display your registration stickers and registration numbers (beginning with AL) on the forward half of your vessel. Letters and numbers must be at least 3” tall in black or other contrasting color and affixed where it can be easily read by law enforcement officials.

Laws for Required Wearing of PFDs :

In addition to the federal PFD carriage requirements, Alabama has the following requirements for wearing a PFD:

• Children under 8 years of age must wear a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD at all times while aboard any vessel, except when in an enclosed cabin.
• Every person on board a personal watercraft (PWC) and any person being towed behind a vessel must wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III or V PFD.
• Boaters within 800 feet below a hydro-electric dam or a navigational lock must wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III or V PFD.

Children under the age of 8 must wear a PFD while onboard!

Additional Equipment Requirements:

Vessels less than 24 feet with an open cockpit and powered by an engine greater than 50 horsepower, must be equipped with a lanyard-type ignition safety switch. This lanyard must be attached to the operator and the ignition switch while the boat is in operation.

Recommended Additional Safety Equipment!

• Compass and charts
• Marine VHF radio
• Anchoring equipment
• Bailing device
• Spare parts & tools
• Extra starting battery
• Oars or paddles
• Flashlight

Mufflers and Noise Levels:

An effective muffling system is required for engine exhaust. Engines must be muffled with a factory-type muffler or water exhaust manifold to effectively reduce noise. The use of cutouts or exhaust stacks is prohibited. It is unlawful to operate any powerboat or PWC that produces sound greater than 86 decibels when measured from 50 feet away.

In general, do not modify your factory exhaust if the result makes it louder!

Loud boat noise not only bothers other operators and users of the waterways, it can also disrupt peace ashore because of sound’s ability to travel great distances over water. Excessive noise can also prevent a boat operator from hearing other boat’s sound signals and warnings and can prevent you from hearing approaching law or rescue personnel. It is illegal for a recreational boat to use or have onboard a siren of any type while operating in Alabama.

Requirements for Waste Discharge:

• Federal regulations and equipment standards established jointly by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard govern the uses of marine sanitation devices (MSDs).
• All boats that have onboard toilet and galley facilities must have a method to collect and contain all waste products, preventing waste from entering surrounding waters. Federal law forbids the discharge of sewage, treated or untreated, or any waste derived from sewage, into the lakes, reservoirs, or fresh water impoundments in the state of Alabama.
• Type I and II MSDs must have a “Y” valve secured to allow for waste to enter a proper onboard holding tank for future drainage at a pump-out station. Type III MSDs typically have a built in holding tank with no external plumbing and cannot be pumped overboard.

All installed MSDs must be US Coast Guard certified
and have a “Y” valve in proper positioning!

• Discharge of fuel, oil or any oil product, including contaminated bilge water, is strictly prohibited. All boats 26 feet or longer must properly display a 5x8 inch Oily Waste Discharge placard near the bilge pump switch.
• All boats 26 feet or longer, when operating in waters under federal jurisdiction, must display an informational placard on the subject of federal marine pollution prevention laws. The placard must be 4x9 inches and placed in a location where crew and passengers can read it.
• All boats 40 feet or longer operating more than 3 miles from shore that are equipped with a galley and berthing, must also carry a Waste Management Plan. This plan must outline procedures for proper marine pollution regulations for garbage management and designate a person in charge for carrying out this plan.

Mandatory Education and Age Requirements:

In order to operate a motorized vessel or PWC in Alabama, you must first obtain an Alabama Boater Safety Certification. You must carry onboard your Alabama Boater Safety Certification at all times and have it available for inspection by law enforcement personnel. Operators of sail boats and manually powered craft are exempt.

Boaters residing in Alabama

• No one under the age of 12 may legally operate a motorized vessel or PWC.
• Boaters under the age of 12 are not eligible for Alabama Boating Safety Certification.
• Boaters under the age of 12 as of January 1, 2002 are eligible for certification when they reach the age of 12. Provided certification requirements are met, these individuals may only operate a vessel when accompanied by a person 21 years of age or older that is certified in the state of Alabama and can take immediate control of the vessel. Once the boater has reached the age of 14, they may legally operate a vessel without supervision.
• Boaters who were 12 years of age or older as of January, 1, 2002 may obtain an Alabama Boater Safety Certification and may operate a vessel without supervision.
• Boaters who received certification by January 1, 2002 may legally operate a vessel without supervision regardless of age.

Boaters visiting from another state

• Boaters visiting from another state should check with Alabama law to determine requirements for operator age, supervision and the maximum allowable length of visit.

To obtain boater certification

Boaters must appear at a Department of Public Safety Driver’s Examining Office and take a boater’s safety exam which includes questions on rules of the road, safety equipment, waterways marking system and other applicable boating laws.

Boaters may also receive a certification of examination exemption by presenting a course completion certificate from an approved course such as those given by the U.S. Power Squadrons, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the Alabama Marine Police Division.

In addition, boaters that have a valid U.S. Coast Guard Motorboat Operator’s License or boaters that were 40 years of age or older as of April 28, 1994 may also apply for a certification of examination exemption.

All applications for certification of examination or certification of examination exemption must be presented to the Department of Public Safety Driver’s License Examining Office in your county of residence. Your driver’s license will then be updated with a "V" endorsement, indicating that you have earned your Alabama Boater Safety Certification. The certificate will be renewed at no charge every four years when your driver’s license is renewed. If you do no have an automobile driver’s license, you will be issued a “Vessel Only” license.

Not all courses (including the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety Course) are accepted for certification.

Reckless & Negligent Operation:

No person shall operate any vessel or manipulate water skis or similar towed devices in a reckless or negligent manner. The failure to exercise the degree of care necessary to prevent endangering life, limb, or property is considered reckless and negligent.

Some activities considered negligent or reckless operation in Alabama:

• Speeding in no-wake zones or boating in areas marked as restricted.
• Failure to maintain a proper lookout for other vessels or person in the water.
• Operating at excessive speed in congested areas and at times of restricted ability.
• Buzzing or wetting down other boaters or reckless operation of a ski boat.
• Allowing a passenger to ride on the gunwale, bow, transom or in any other position obviously dangerous may be considered negligent operation.
• Overloading or overpowering a vessel and operating a vessel without a capacity plate.
• Jumping the wake of another vessel unnecessarily close.
• Operating a boat within 100 feet of a divers down flag.

Additional laws that apply to personal watercraft (PWC):

Boat Speed Limits:

Boat speed limits are regulated by law for certain areas and conditions. When no speed limit is posted, operate your boat so that it will not endanger others.

• In Alabama, "No Wake Speed" is defined as a speed at which your vessel does not produce a wake, not to exceed 5 miles per hour. "Idle Speed or Slow- No Wake" means the slowest speed at which is possible to maintain steering, not to exceed 5 miles per hour.
• White buoys with red markings and black letters will indicate speed limits and no wake zones.
• When operating your boat in a no-wake zone if you cause damage to another person’s boat or property, you are responsible. Be especially careful when leaving or entering a marina or harbor - proceed slowly in these areas.
• In times of restricted visibility such as in fog, stormy conditions or nighttime operation, you must be able to stop your vessel within half the distance of forward visibility. At all times, operators must be prepared to avoid a collision and have engines ready for immediate maneuvering.

Special Activities Restrictions and Considerations:

Many states regulate certain activities such as waterskiing and diving. For your safety, and for those who may be in the water, you should abide by these special laws.

Special Activities, Restrictions & Requirements:

• Boaters (and PWC operators) engaged in towing a water skier or similar device must have an observer other than the boat operator that is at least 12 years of age or a wide-angled mirror of at least 78 square inches with a field vision of at least 170 degrees.
• When towing a water skier or similar device behind a PWC, the craft must have mirrors mounted on both sides of the hull (not attached to the steering column) no less than 2.5 inches high by 4 inches wide.
• When loaning your motorboat or PWC, be certain that they have met the minimum age and education requirements and understand all applicable laws, including PFD wear.
• When towing a person on water skis or similar device, the participant must wear a properly fitting vest style Type I, II, III or V PFD. Inflatable life jackets and ski belts are not approved.
• It is illegal for a vessel to tow a skier or similar device between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
• Vessels engaged in scuba diving and snorkeling must display a red and white diver down flag measuring at least 15x15 inches to mark their diving area. Other boats must not come closer than 100 feet to the flag.
• Vessels engaged in diving activity and restricted in their ability to maneuver, must hoist a blue and white alfa flag when conducting operations in federal and international waters.

Operating Under the Influence

State Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws are becoming more stringent. As on the roadways, on-water enforcement officers may administer sobriety tests and conduct a blood alcohol content (BAC) examination.

In Alabama:

• No person shall operate any boat, sail boat, personal watercraft, water skis or similar device while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Boaters who have a BAC of 0.08% or greater are considered intoxicated.
• Alabama law prescribes fines and jail times for those who violate state BUI laws.
• Refusal to submit to a chemical test may result in increased penalties upon conviction.

Officer Authority, Compliance & Assistance

In Alabama, boating laws are enforced by Marine Police officers, county sheriffs, law enforcement officers and other peace officers. They have the authority to stop, halt or inspect vessels to enforce Alabama and federal boating laws. The United States Coast Guard has enforcement authority on federally controlled waters.

These officers also have the authority to terminate voyages, escort boaters ashore, or order boaters to the nearest moorage if an unsafe condition is found that cannot be corrected on the spot.

Boat operators must immediately yield and reduce speed when being overtaken or approached, or stop if directed by a law enforcement official operating a siren and/or displaying an illuminated blue light. When operating in an area of law enforcement activity, you must reduce speed and give a wide berth until beyond the area of operation of the law enforcement vessel.

Accident Reporting Requirements

Anyone involved in a boating accident is required to stop and give assistance as long as it will not personally endanger the operator, passengers or vessel. A written report must be submitted to the Alabama Marine Police Division by anyone involved in a boating accident that results in death or disappearance of a person, or if a person is injured and remains incapacitated for more than 72 hours, or if damage to the vessel or other property exceeds $50. Reports of accidents must be made within 10 days of the accident. Forms may be obtained from officers of the Marine Police Division or county sheriff’s offices.

Other State Boating Laws

Often times counties, cities and districts within a state will have different, more restrictive laws. Boating laws are subject to change and it is your responsibility to be informed of the law as it applies to you and your on-water activities. To be absolutely certain about specific boating laws in your state it is wise to contact your state boating agency.

It is Your Responsibility – Be Informed!

We provide this information as a service and strive to keep this website up to date. Please let us know of any inconsistencies by bringing them to our attention at once at onlinecourse@boatus.com. Resources for these pages include state statutes, state web pages and state approved boating guides. BoatU.S. is not responsible for any misinterpretation of the law or any change in the law that is not adequately reflected in these pages. Damages as a result of failing to abide by stated law shall not be the responsibility of BoatU.S., BoatU.S. Foundation or its employees.

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