State Law vs. Federal Law

Registration and Titling Requirements:

All motorized vessels used principally in the waters of Idaho, must be registered with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR). The following are the only exceptions:

• Manually powered vessels like canoes, kayaks, sailboards, rafts and float tubes (without motors).
• Vessels having valid registration in another state and not remaining in Idaho waters for more than 60 consecutive days.
• Vessels documented with the U.S. Coast Guard.

To register your vessel, you may pick up a registration form at any county motor vehicle department or any boat registration vendor. You must then mail your registration application and fee to:

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
Registration Section
POB 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0065

Once in receipt of the application and fee, the IDPR will issue a Certificate of Registration. The Certificate of Registration must be kept aboard the boat at all times and be readily available for inspection by a law enforcement officer.

The Certificate of Registration and validation stickers expire on December 31st each year!

The IDPR will also issue a set of validation stickers which expire on December 31st of each year. You must display your registration stickers and registration numbers (beginning with ID) on the forward half of your vessel well above the waterline where it can be easily read by law enforcement officials. Letters and numbers are to be block style of at least 3” tall and must be black or another color that contrasts with the hull. Letters and numbers are to read from left to right and have a space or hyphen to separate letter and numbers. The validation sticker must be affixed within six inches of and in-line with the registration letters and numbers. Expired stickers must be removed or covered by the new sticker.

• Note: Effective January 1, 2000 Idaho requires the following vessels to be titled:
• Vessels over 12 feet in length with an outboard motor.
• Vessels with permanently mounted engines (in boards, sterndrives, personal watercraft) model year 2000 or newer.

Laws for Required Wearing of PFDs :

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

• New Law in 2002!
• If boating on a vessel that is 19 feet in length or less, children 14 years of age and younger must wear an approved PFD while the vessel is underway.
• 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. Ski belts do not meet this requirement and should be carried aboard as excess equipment only. Inflatable PFDs are not intended for use while participating in tow sports or other high impact sports.
• Persons fly-fishing with float tubes are not required to wear a PFD on lakes less than 200 surface acres, but fly fishing pontoons do require PFDs on all Idaho waters.

Additional Equipment Requirements:

As long as the minimum federal equipment requirements are met, some states may require additional safety gear to be carried aboard. At this time, Idaho does not require any specific additional safety equipment, but the following are some recommended items:

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 the exhaust of each engine. Any boat operated on the waters of Idaho must be muffled with a permanently installed muffler or water exhaust manifold that cannot be bypassed. Specifically:

• Motorboats built before January 1, 1995, must not exceed 90 dB(A) using the stationary test.
• Motorboats built on or after January 1, 1995, must not exceed 88 dB(A) using the stationary test.
• While operating on lakes and rivers wider than 500 feet, it is unlawful to exceed 75 dB(A) as measured from shore.

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 boats’ sound signals and warnings and can prevent you from hearing approaching law or rescue personnel.

Requirements for Waste, Oil and Garbage Disposal:

• 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 on-board toilet facilities must have a method to collect and contain all waste products, preventing it from entering surrounding waters. It is illegal to discharge sewage, treated or untreated, or any waste derived from sewage, into any water in the state of Idaho.

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

• Type I and II MSDs must have a “Y” valve secured to allow for waste to enter a proper on-board holding tank for future drainage at a pump-out station. Type III MSDs will typically have a built in holding tank with no external plumbing and cannot be pumped overboard. Type III MSDs must be pumped ashore at a proper facility.

It is illegal to dump sewage, oil or garbage into any Idaho state waters!

• 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.

Mandatory Education and Age Requirements:

The Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation recommends taking a boating safety class such as those offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary or US Power Squadrons. Additionally, internet courses, such as the BoatU.S. Online Boating Safety Course, are also a good way to learn how to make boating safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Although Idaho has no mandatory state-wide education requirement, certain counties such as Benewah, Bonner and Kootenai, have age restrictions for minimum operator age. Please check with the counties and cities in which you plan to boat and familiarize yourself with local requirements.

• Special situations:
• Businesses that rent PWCs must provide education to all operators and passengers prior to rental. Proof of this education must be carried by the operator during use.
• Persons convicted of operating under the influence and those who are repeat boating law offenders will be required to take a court-ordered boating safety class.

Reckless & Negligent Operation:

The failure to exercise the degree of care necessary to prevent endangering life, limb, or property is considered reckless and negligent. Therefore, no person shall operate any vessel or manipulate water skis, aquaplane, or similar device in manner that can bring harm to you, your passengers, and other boaters.

Some activities considered negligent or reckless operation in Idaho:

• Speeding in no-wake zones or boating in areas marked as restricted.
• Buzzing or wetting down other boaters or reckless operation of a ski boat.
• Allowing a passenger to ride on the gunwale, bow, transom or similar position may be considered negligent operation.
• Maneuvering your boat recklessly in the vicinity of other boaters, the shoreline, or those who are at anchor or are engaged in swimming, fishing or diving.
• Jumping the wake of another boater causing you to become airborne.
• Obstructing another boat from maneuvering or passing safely or aiming at another boat and swerving at the last minute.
• Operating at excessive speed in congested areas and at times of restricted ability. You must use reasonable care in order to bring your vessel to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead when operating within 100 feet of another vessel.
• Chasing, harassing or disturbing wildlife with you vessel.

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. Always keep a proper lookout and never load a boat with passengers or cargo beyond its safe carrying capacity. You are responsible for your wake!

• 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. Proceed slowly in these areas.
• In times of restricted visibility such as 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.

In Idaho, No-Wake Speed is no greater than 5 miles per hour!

• It is illegal to operate your vessel at greater than no-wake speed (5 miles per hour) while within 100 feet of a dock, swimmer or other person in the water, except when safely pulling a skier off of a dock or returning a skier to the vicinity of a dock. Effort must be made by the ski boat operator to minimize the time spent at speeds greater than 5 miles per hour when within the 100 foot zone.

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 a competent observer other than the boat operator observing the towed person(s).
• When towing a water skier or similar device behind a PWC, it must be rated for at least 3 people to accommodate the operator, observer and retrieved skier.
• When towing a person on water skis or similar device, the participant must wear a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard Type I, II, III or V approved PFD.
• It is illegal to tow a skier or similar device between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
• Vessels engaged in waterskiing or similar towed activity must carry and use a red or orange 12" square "skier down" flag anytime a skier is in the water.
• Vessels engaged in scuba diving and snorkeling must display a red and white diver down flag to mark their diving area. Other vessels must slow to no-wake speed when within 100 feet of 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 Idaho:

• No person shall operate any vessel, personal watercraft, water skis or similar device while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Boaters that are 21 years of age or older who have a BAC of 0.08% or greater are considered "under the influence".
• Boaters that are under 21 years of age who have a BAC of 0.02% or greater are considered "under the influence".
• Those convicted of BUI will be required to successfully complete a course on safe boating.
• Idaho law prescribes fines and jail times for those who violate state BUI laws and will revoke boating privileges for up to 2 years.
• Refusal to submit to a chemical test for BAC may result in increased penalties upon conviction.

Officer Authority, Compliance & Assistance

In Idaho, the sheriffs and deputy sheriffs of the county in which you are boating have the authority to stop, halt or inspect vessels to enforce Idaho and federal boating laws. The United States Coast Guard has enforcement authority on federally controlled waters.

All Idaho peace officers the have the authority to stop, halt or inspect vessels!

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, approached or 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

Operators involved in a boating accident that results in injury, death or disappearance of anyone involved, or if property damage exceeds $500, must notify the sheriff of the county in which the accident happened by the quickest means possible. Be prepared to provide your name, address and vessel registration numbers to authorities and all other involved parties. You must then file a written accident report within 48 hours. Accidents that involve property damage only, must file a written report within 10 days.

To obtain a boating accident report form visit any sheriff’s department office or call the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation at (208) 334-4199.

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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