State Law vs. Federal Law

Registration and Titling Requirements:

All motorized watercraft operating on public waters of Indiana must have an Indiana certificate of registration and validation decals. This includes boats powered by an electric trolling motor. Boats that are documented by the U.S. Coast Guard must also be registered and display the excise decal. Vessels having valid registration in another state and not remaining in Indiana waters for more than 60 consecutive days need not be registered with the State.

To register your vessel, you must submit the proper application to any state Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) License Branch, or download forms at www.bmv.in.gov/watercraft/forms.html. Once in receipt of the application and fee, the BMV 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 BMV will also issue a set of validation decals. You must display your registration decals and registration numbers (beginning with IN) 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 a single color that must be clearly legible from a distance of 100 feet. Letters and numbers are to read from left to right and have a space or hyphen to separate letters and numbers. The validation decal must be affixed within three inches to the right of and in-line with the registration letters and numbers. Expired decals must be completely covered or removed.

The certificate of registration and validation decals must be renewed each year!

Watercraft that must be registered with the State must also be titled. A title verifies ownership when you sell your boat or if your boat is stolen. The following are exempt from titling:

• Watercraft acquired by the owner before January 1, 1986
• Watercraft that is less than $3,000 in value when new
• Watercraft that was home built for personal use and not for resale

Laws for Required Wearing of PFDs :

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

Additional Equipment Requirements:

All boats must carry aboard the minimum federal equipment requirements. Some states may require additional safety gear to be carried aboard. At this time, Indiana 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 factory-installed muffling system is required for the exhaust of each engine. Any boat operated on the waters of Indiana must be muffled with a permanently installed muffler or water exhaust manifold that cannot be bypassed, cut out, or otherwise altered.

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 with onboard toilet facilities must have a method to collect and contain all waste products, preventing it from entering surrounding waters. It is illegal to discharge untreated sewage into any state or federally controlled waters.

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 Indiana 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 Indiana Department of Natural Resources recommends all boaters, regardless of age, take a boating safety class. Although at Indiana does not have specific education requirements for adults, the State does have certain age restrictions for vessel and PWC operation.

• All motorboat and PWC operators must have a valid driver's license to operate on all Indiana public waters.
• Motorboat and PWC operators who are 15 years of age may operate said craft until they become a licensed driver only if they have successfully completed an IN DNR approved boater safety education program, are issued an Indiana ID card by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles and have proof of completion in their possession during operation.
• A person who has never been licensed by the BMV must also complete an INDNR approved boater safety education program and have on board an ID card issued by the BMV.
• No one under 15 years of age may legally operate a motorboat greater than 10 horsepower or a PWC.
• Residents of Indiana must have a valid driver's license when operating on Indiana boundary waters. Non-residents do not need a driver's license unless operating in an embayment, river or stream in Indiana.

Reckless & Negligent Operation:

The failure to exercise the degree of care necessary to prevent endangering life, limb, or property is considered dangerous. 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. Certain offenses can have points assessed against your driver's license.

Some activities considered Dangerous Operation in Indiana:

• Operating a boat or PWC under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Speeding in no-wake zones or boating in areas marked as restricted.
• Circling, buzzing or wetting down other boaters, fishermen or swimmers.
• Allowing passengers to ride on the gunwale or, if the motorboat is less than 21 feet in length, on the bow.
• Maneuvering your boat recklessly in the vicinity of other boaters, or causing a hazardous wake or wash.
• Jumping the wake of another boater causing you to become airborne.
• Aiming at another boat or obstructing it as to prevent it from maneuvering or passing safely.
• Loading passengers and cargo beyond the capacity plate rating or manufacturer's recommendations.

Additional laws that apply to personal watercraft (PWC):

• Jumping the wake of another vessel is prohibited.
• Operating a PWC while facing backwards.
• Steering toward another boater, person or other object and swerving at the last minute.
• Weaving through congested traffic or crossing paths with another vessel when vision is obstructed.
• A PWC may not be operated between sunset and sunrise unless it is properly equipped with navigational lights.
• A PWC must be operated at idle speed when within 200 feet from shore.
• All personal watercraft must be equipped with an emergency engine cut-off or other safety kill switch, or feature a self-circling function in the event the operator falls off. If the PWC is equipped with a lanyard cut-off device, it must be properly attached to the operator during operation.

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!

• Typically, white buoys or signs 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 Indiana, No-Wake Speed is no greater than 5 miles per hour!

• No-wake speed or idle speed is the slowest possible speed, not exceeding five miles per hour, so as to maintain steerage and create minimal wake.
• A person may not operate a boat during the period between sunset and sunrise at a speed greater than ten (10) miles per hour.
• In times of restricted visibility such as in fog or stormy conditions, 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, diving and hunting from a vessel. For your safety, and for those who may be in the water, you should learn and 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. The tow line must be at least 9 feet in length.
• No person shall tow a water skier or similar device between sunset and sunrise.
• 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.
• Vessels engaged in scuba diving and snorkeling must display a red and white diver down flag to mark their diving area. Divers must stay within 100 feet of the flag. Other vessels must stay 150 feet away from 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. This does not replace the diver's flag.

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 Indiana:

• It is illegal to operate a motorboat or PWC while intoxicated due to alcohol, drugs or combination thereof.
• Persons that have a BAC of 0.08% or greater are considered intoxicated. You may also be arrested if your BAC is less than 0.08% but over 0.05% if an officer considers your actions and thought impaired or that you otherwise pose a danger to others.
• Indiana law prescribes fines and jail times for those who violate state BUI laws. Convictions could have points assessed on your driver's license and boat operating privileges may be revoked.
• By operating a vessel on Indiana waters, you have consented to submit to a chemical test if requested by law enforcement personnel. Refusal to submit to a chemical test for BAC may result in increased penalties upon conviction.

Officer Authority, Compliance & Assistance

Conservation Officers of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDNR), the U.S. Coast Guard, and other law enforcement or peace officers have the authority to stop, halt or inspect vessels to enforce Indiana and federal boating laws. The U.S. Coast Guard regulates all federal waters including those of concurrent jurisdiction defined as: Lake Michigan (Indiana portion), the Great Miami River, the Ohio River and the portion of the Wabash River that forms a border between Indiana and Illinois.

Conservation officers of the INDNR 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. When operating in an area of law enforcement activity, 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 $750, must notify the sheriff or nearest police department or the nearest conservation office by the quickest means possible.

Failure to report an accident that results in bodily injury or death is a felony. Be prepared to provide your name, address and vessel registration numbers to authorities and all other involved parties. You must also file a written accident report supplied but the INDNR within 24 hours of the accident.

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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