State Law vs. Federal Law

Registration and Numbering Requirements:

All motorboats powered by propulsion machinery of any type (including electric trolling motors) and operated on the waters of the state of Wyoming shall be numbered. The following are the only motorboats that are exempt from numbering:

• Motorboats that are properly registered in another state not remaining in Wyoming waters more than 90 consecutive days.
• Motorboats that are covered by a number in full force and effect, which has been issued pursuant to any federal law and not remaining in Wyoming waters more than 90 consecutive days.
• Motorboats presently numbered under the rules of the Department until the present registration expires.
• A motorboat whose owner is the United States, a state or a subdivision thereof, but such ownership must be visibly evident.

To register your vessel, you must submit the proper forms and fees to the Wyoming Game & Fish Department. Applications may be obtained from the Departments website at http://gf.state.wy.us. Once in receipt of required information and fees, you will be issued a certificate of number which is your registration card. This must be kept aboard the boat or personal watercraft (PWC) at all times and must be readily available for inspection by law enforcement personnel.

You will also receive a set of registration decals. You must display your registration decals and registration numbers (beginning with WY) on each side of the bow in order that it may be completely visible. Letters and numbers must be at least 3" tall, read left to right, and must be a color that contrasts with the hull. The registration decals must be displayed aft and directly in line with the registration number.

The Certificate of Number and Registration Decals are valid for a period of 1 or 3 years!

Owners registering their boat for the first time will need to provide proof of ownership such as a notarized bill of sale, an invoice from a motorized watercraft dealer, a watercraft registration from another state, or a notarized affidavit of ownership. In addition, proof of paying Wyoming Sales/Use Tax must be provided for all motorboat transactions, except renewals. Proof shall consist of an official receipt from the County Treasurer, an official receipt from the Department of Revenue, or an official sales invoice from a Wyoming vendor.

Be sure that you have all of your paperwork handy before attempting to register you boat.

Laws for Required Wearing of PFDs :

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

Additional Equipment Requirements:

Beyond minimum federal equipment requirements, some states may have requirements for only certain designated bodies of water. Please check with your local waterway authority before heading out. The Wyoming Game & Fish Department recommends the consideration of the following items depending on the length of your boat and where you do your boating:

Recommended Additional Safety Equipment!

• Compass and charts
• Visual distress signals
• Marine VHF radio/cell phone
• Anchoring equipment
• Bailing device
• Spare parts & tools
• Extra starting battery
• Oars or paddles
• Flashlight

Mufflers and Noise Levels:

Motorboats shall be equipped, maintained and operated to prevent excessive or unusually loud noise and shall at all times be equipped with a muffler or shall use another method of noise suppression in good working order and in constant operation.

No person shall operate or allow the operation of any motorboat equipped with an altered muffler or muffler cutout, by pass or other device installed to continually or intermittently bypass or otherwise reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of any muffler or muffler system.

Loud boat noise not only bothers other operators and users of the waterways, it also disrupts 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 from hearing approaching law or rescue personnel.

Requirements for Waste Discharge:

• It is illegal to discharge, trash, plastics and sewage into the waters of Wyoming. All boats that have on-board toilets must have a method to collect and contain all waste products, preventing it from entering surrounding waters. Wyoming law forbids the discharge of sewage or any waste derived from sewage, into the waters of this state.
• 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.

Boater Age Restrictions:

No person shall operate or be in actual physical control of a motorboat required to be numbered on the waters of Wyoming unless he/she is at least sixteen (16) years of age or is accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. No person shall knowingly permit the operation of a numbered motorboat on the waters of Wyoming by a person under 16 years of age who is not accompanied by an adult. (This includes personal watercraft, i.e. jet skis, waverunners.)

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 may be considered reckless, negligent or careless operation. Below are just a few of the prohibited methods of operation in Wyoming.

Specifically, it is unlawful:

• To operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• To operate at greater than no-wake speed in any posted or no wake zone.
• To operate such that you collide with another vessel, object or person.
• To operate a boat within an area clearly marked as restricted or swimming area.
• To allow any person to sit or ride on the gunwales while underway unless adequate guards or railings are in place.
• To weave through congested waterway traffic or failure to follow the navigation rules.
• To overload or overpower your vessel greater than is safe based on prevailing conditions.

A personal watercraft is also considered a Class "A" motorboat and must follow the same laws and regulations as above. However, there are additional laws that apply to personal watercraft (PWC). Specifically:

Boat and PWC Speed Limits:

Boat speed limits are regulated by law for certain areas and conditions. When no speed limit is posted you should operate your boat so that it will not endanger others or cause injury, damage, or unnecessary inconvenience. A safe speed means that you can always bring your vessel to a safe stop and always keep a proper lookout.

• You are responsible for your wake and you must not cause damage from the wake of your vessel.
• In Wyoming, a "slow-no-wake" speed is that speed at which it does not create a wake, not to exceed 5 miles per hour.
• White buoys or signs with red or orange markings will indicate speed limits and no wake zones.
• Certain bodies of water may have speed, horsepower and other engine restrictions. Be sure to check with your local waterways management before you go.

Special Activities Restrictions and Considerations:

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

Special Activities, Restrictions & Requirements:

• Operators of motorized craft shall display a 12-inch square fluorescent orange flag, above the motorized watercraft anytime persons towed by a watercraft, or snorkelers are down in the water to warn other watercraft operators of the situation.
• A red and white diver's flag and the blue and white alfa flag indicate the presence of divers or snorkelers in the immediate area. Boaters must not operate at greater than no-wake speed within 100 feet of these flags.
• Any motorboat used to tow water skis, aquaplane or similar device shall be occupied by at least two persons (an operator and an observer), unless equipped by a wide-angle mirror.
• No motorboat shall have in tow or otherwise be assisting a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar device from the period of one hour after sunset to one hour prior to sunrise.
• Boaters engaged in waterskiing or a similar operation must conduct themselves in a safe manner so as not to cause a collision with another object, vessel, or person.
• It is unlawful to plant/release fish or eggs without the consent and supervision of the Wyoming Game & Fish Department; and it is unlawful to transport live fish or live eggs from the water of capture.

Operating Under the Influence

It is illegal to boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. State Operating Under the Influence laws are becoming more stringent.

In Wyoming, the following is considered illegal and dangerous operation:

• Operating under the influence of any drug, or controlled substance.
• Operating with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10% or greater.

As on the roadways, on-water enforcement officers may administer sobriety tests and/or conduct a chemical test to determine level of sobriety. Boating under the influence and can bring fines and/or jail time for those convicted.

Officer Authority, Compliance & Assistance

In Wyoming, officers of the Game & Fish Department and other sworn peace officers of the state, have the duty to provide for safety on the water and have the authority to stop and/or inspect vessels to enforce Wyoming and federal boating laws.

Boat operators must immediately yield and reduce speed when being overtaken, approached or directed by a law enforcement official or halt progress as directed. When operating in an area of law enforcement activity, you should 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. Operators involved in an accident shall remain at the scene to the extent it is safe and practical, and exchange personal and boat information with authorities and other involved parties.

All boating accidents must be reported immediately to any Wyoming law enforcement agency or any Wyoming peace officer. Within 10 days of the accident, the watercraft operator shall file with the Department a full description of the accident, collision or other casualty.

The following instances are considered reportable accidents:

• Capsizing, flooding, fire, explosion, disappearance of the watercraft other than by theft and all collisions involving other watercraft and fixed or floating objects.
• When a collision, accident or casualty involving watercraft results in death or injury to a person requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.
• The disappearance of any person from the watercraft under circumstances which indicate the possibility of death (falling overboard, jumping from watercraft).
• When damage to watercraft is in excess of $500.

Accidents should be completed on an accident report form supplied by the Department.

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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