ORD 2081 w'
ORDINANCE NO ,
AN ORDINANCE adopting regulations regarding
the time , manner , and area of boating operations
on waters of the City of Camas .
Section I
Definitions . Unless the context clearly requires otherwise ,
the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
1 . " Aids to navigation " means buoys , beacons and other
fixed objects in or on the water which are used to mark channels ,
obstructions to navigation or restricted areas .
2 . " Authorized emergency vessel " means those vessels
of the county or municipal police or fire department , the United
States government , and the state of Washington equipped with red
or blue lights and siren .
3 . " Boater " means any person on a vessel on waters of
the City of Camas .
4 . " City " means City of Camas .
5 . " Darkness " means that period between one ( 1 ) hour
after sunset and one ( 1 ) hour before sunrise .
6 . " Diver ' s flag " means a red flag , five ( 5 ) units of
measurement on the hoist by six ( 6 ) units of measurement on the
fly with a white stripe of one ( 1 ) unit crossing the red diagonally ,
the flag having a stiffener to make it stand out from the pole
or mast . This flag shall pertain to skin and scuba ( self - contained
underwater breathing apparatus ) diving and shall supplement any
nationally recognized diver ' s flag or marking . A unit of measurement
shall not be less than two ( 2 ) inches .
7 . " Livery " means the business of renting or leasing
boats .
8 . " Marina " means a facility providing boat moorage space ,
fuel , or commercial services . Commercial services include but
are not limited to overnight or live - aboard boating accommodations .
9 . " Motor driven boats and vessels " means all boats
and vessels which are self propelled .
Ordinance No .
Page 2
10 . " Operate " means to steer , direct , or otherwise have
physical control of a vessel that is underway ,
11 . " Operator " means an individual who steers , directs
or otherwise has physical control of a vessel that is underway
or exercises actual authority to control the person at the helm .
12 . " Owner " means a person who has a lawful right to
possession of a vessel by purchase , exchange , gift , lease , inheritance
or legal action whether or not the vessel is subject to a security
go
interest .
13 . " Personal flotation device " means a buoyancy device ,
life preserver , buoyant vest , ring buoy , or buoy cushion that is
designed to float a person in the water and that is approved by
the commission .
14 . " Personal watercraft " means a vessel of less than
sixteen feet that uses a motor powering a water Set punp , as its
primary source of motive power and that is designed to be operated
by a person sitting , standing , or kneeling on , or being towed behind
the vessel , rather than inthe conventional manner of sitting or
standing inside the vessel .
15 . " Fier " means any pier , wharf , dock , float , gridiron ,
or other structure intended to provide for the loading or unloading
or other discharge of vessels or for their service or repair , or
to provide access for persons to the water from the shore fishing ,
swimming or any other water - related activity .
16 . " Reckless " or " recklessly " means acting carelessly
and heedlessly in a willful and wanton disregard of the rights ,
safety or property of another .
17 . " Restricted area " means an area that has been designated
to be used for , or closed to , certain purposes such as swimming ,
underwater diving , vessel operation , and competitions or exhibitions
on the water , including races , regattas and trials therefor .
18 . " Shoreline " means the existing intersection of of
water with the ground surface or with any permanent , shore connected
facility .
Ordinance No . Page 3
19 . " Slow - - No - wake " means the speed at which the particular
boat being operated does not create a discernable wake , but in
no event , a speed in excess of five ( 5 ) miles per hour .
20 . " Swimming " includes floating on any air mattress ,
inner tube or similar inflatable device , not including inflatable
rafts , as well as propelling or floating oneself in the water .
21 . " Underwater diving " means the activity of submerging
in water while equipped with snorkeling , hard had or scuba diving
equipment .
22 . " Underway " means that a vessel is not at anchor ,
or made fast to the shore , or aground .
23 . " Vessel " includes every description of watercraft
on the water , other than a seaplane , used or capable of being used
as a means of transportation on the water . However , it does not
include inner tubes , air mattresses , and small rafts or flotation
devices or toys customarily used by swimmers .
24 . " Water skiing " means the physical act of being towed
behind a vessel on , but not limited to , any skis , aquaplane , kneeboard ,
tube , or any other similar device .
25 . " Waters of the City " means any waters within the
territorial limits of the City of Camas .
Section II
Incapacity_ f Operator . It is unlawful for any person who
owns or is in control of any vessel to authorize or knowingly permit
the same to be operated by any person who by reason of physical
or mental disability , incapacity or immaturity is incapable of
safely and lawfully operating such vessel under the prevailing
circumstances , including the type , size and motor power of the
vessel , and the weather and water conditions .
Section III
Speed Restrictions .
1 . Vessels shall not exceed a slow - no - wake speed within
one hundred ( 100 ) feet of any shoreline , pier , breakwater , person
Ordinance No . Page 4
in the water , boat launch , log sorting area , or established moorage ,
g
regardless of the speed otherwise authorized on a particular body
of water .
2 . Vessels shall not exceed a maximum speed of forty
( 40 ) miles per hour on all waters of the City , except the Columbia
River ,
3 . Vessels shall not exceed posted speed limits .
4 . Regardless of the forty ( 40 ) mile per hour speed
limit contained in sub - section 2 above or the lesser posted speed
limit , the vessel shall be operated in a careful and prudent manner
and at a speed no greater than is reasonable and proper under the
conditions at the time and place of operation , taking into account
the amount and character of traffic , size of the waters , freedom
from obstruction to view ahead , and so as not to unreasonably endanger
persons or property or other rights of any person entitled to the
use of such waters . The operator of any vessel shall be responsible
for its wake and any damage or injuries caused by a wake from its
vehicle .
Section IV
Exemption of Authorized Emergency Vessels. . The foregoing
speed restrictions shall not apply to any authorized emergency
vessel responding to an emergency or in pursuit of an actual or
suspect violator of the law .
Section V
Obedience to Peace Officer . No person shall willfully fail
or refuse to comply with the direction of a peace officer , who
is at the time discharging the duty of regulating and directing
waterborne traffic .
Section VI
Refusal to Give Information or Cooperate . It is unlawful
for any person while operating or in charge of any vessel to refuse
when requested by a peace officer to give his name and address
and the name and address of the owner of the vessel , or to give
a false name and address to such peace officer .
f
Ordinance nance No . Page 5
Section VII
Oyerloadin and Overpower No person shall knowingly load
or power a vessel beyond the maximum capacity specified by the
manufacturer for such vessel .
Section VIII
Swimming .
1 . Swimming shall be confined to :
a . Restricted areas designed for swimming , or
b . The area one hundred ( 100 ) feet from a pier ,
the shore or vessel accompanying the swimmer .
2 . Except in any emergency , swimming is Prohibited at
all times within designated channels , or within one
( 100 ) hundred feet of boat launching areas when such
activity obstructs or hinders navigation or boat
operation .
Section IX
Safety Devices on Piers . Every owner , agent , lessee or other
person in charge of any pier open to the public shall maintain on
such pier at least one thirty - inch ring life buoy and an additional
thirty - inch life buoy for every three hundred 4 ( 300 ) lineal feet
of berthing space to each of which shall be attached at least one
hundred feet ( 10 0 ) of line , one end of which shall be fastened
to the life buoy .
Section X
Riding on Decks and Gunwales .
1 . No person operating a motorboat shall allow any person
to ride or sit on the gunwales or on the decking over
the bow of the boat while under way unless the motor
boat is provided with adequate guards or railings .
2 . Nothing in this section shall prohibit passengers or
other persons from aboard a boat from standing on the
deck over the bow of the boat in order to moor the boat
to a mooring buoy , float or dock or to cast off from
such buoy , float or dock or for any other necessary
purpose .
R ;
Ordinance No . Page 6
Section XI
Mooring to Buo s / Destro in Aids to Navi ation No person
shall moor a boat or obstruct any of the buoys or beacons placed '
in
any waters of this county . By the authority of the county , state
or any agency of the United States nor in any manner hang on with
a boat to such buoy , beacon or other navigational aid maintained
in the waters of the county or deface , destroy or remove aids to
navigation .
Section XII
Underwater Diving .
1 . Underwater diving is prohibited unless the diver
is within two hundred ( 200 ) feet of a properly displayed
diver ' s flag as required by federal law .
2 . It is unlawful to operate a vessel in excess of slow -
no - wake speed within two hundred ( 200 ) feet of a
diver ' s flag .
3 . It is unlawful to interfere with navigation while
underwater diving .
Section XIII
Personal Flotation Devices . Any person operating or riding
a sailboard , windsurfer , jet ski or motorized surfboard must wear
at all times a personal flotation device that is approved by the
United States Coast Guard .
Section XIV
Special Regulations . This chapter sets forth special regulations
or restrictions regarding time , manner or area of boating operations
on certain designated bodies of water .
A . LaCamas Lake .
1 . It shall be unlawful to operate a motor boat
on LaCamas Lake at a speed in excess of ten ( 10 )
miles per hour for the first fifteen ( 15 ) days
following the opening of trout fishing season
in Clark County .
Ordinance No . Page 7
2e it shall be unlawful to operate a motor boat
on LaCamas Lake at any time at a speed in excess
of slow - no - wake speed in the following areas .
a . Easterly of the buoys at he east end of the
lake across from the state boat ramp .
b . Westerly of the buoys at the west end of
the lake .
B . Round Lake .
It shall be unlawful to operate an internal combustion
engine on Round Lake east of the State Highway 500
bridge that divides LaCamas Lake and Round Lake .
C . Columbia River .
Vessels shall not exceed a slow - no - wake speed within
two hundred ( 200 ) feet of any shoreline , pier , breakwater ,
person in the water , boat launch , log sorting area ,
or established moorage .
Section XV
Regattas / Permit Required . It shall be unlawful for any person to
hold or to participate in any regatta , motorboat race , boating exhibition ,
water ski tournament , or similar event unless a permit is obtained
through the Police Department : PROVIDED , that such a permit is not
required if authorized by an appropriate agency of the United States .
Section XVI
Penalty . Violation of any of the regulations of this chapter
shall constitute a misdemeanor until the violation is included in
a civil infraction monetary schedule adopted by rule by the State
Supreme Court pursuant to Chapter 7 . 84 , Revised Code of Washington .
Section XVII
Effective Date . This ordinance shall take force and be in
effect five ( 5 ) days from and after its publication according to law .
PASSED by the Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this
day of 1996 .
SIGNED :
Mayor
�
ATTEST . 'r . 6' �.
C ` 1 e rk
APPROVED as to form .
raw
City tto ney
tresses, and small rafts or flotation devices
or toys customarily used by swimmers.
24. " Water skiing" means the physical act
of being towed behind a vessel on, but not
limited to, any skis, aquaplane, kneeboard,
f Public ion
Affidavitttube, or any other similar device.
ORDINANCE NO . 2081 25 . "Waters of the City " means any wa -
AN ORDINANCE adopting regulations ters within the territorial limits of the City
regarding the time, manner, and area of of Camas.
boating operations on waters of the City of Section II
Camas. Incapacity of Operator. It is unlawful for
STATE OF WASHINGTON ) Section I any person who owns or is in control of any
) Definitions. Unless the context clearly re- vessel to authorize or knowingly permit the
COUNTY OF CLARK
tquires otherwise the definitions in this sec- same to be operated by any person who by
on apply throughout this chapter. reason of physical or mental disability, mca-
1 . "Aids to navigation" means buoys, beam pacity or immaturity is incapable of safely
cons and other fixed objects in or on the and lawfully operating such vessel under
I �
Michael Gallagher , being first water which are used to mark channels, ob - the prevailing circumstances, including the
structions to navigation or restricted areas . type, size an
duly sworn , depose and say that I am the owner , editor , publisher d motor power of the vessel, and
2. "Authorized emergency vessel" means the weather and water conditions.
of The Post - Record , a weekly newspaper . That said newspaper is those vessels of the county or municipal pow Section III
a legal newspaper and has been approved as a legal newspaper by lice or fire department, the United States Speed Restrictions .
order of the superior court in the county in which it is published and government, and the state of Washington 1 . Vessels shall not exceed a slow -no -wake
it is now and has been for more than six months prior to the date of equipped with red or blue lights and siren . within one hundred (100) feet of any shore-
3 . "Boater" means any person or vessel line, pier, breakwater, person in the water,
in the English language on waters of the City of Camas. boat launch , log sorting area, or establi
the publication hereinafter to , published shed
continuously as a weekly newspaper in Camas , Clark County , 4. "City" means City of Camas. moorage, regardless of the speed otherwise
Washington , and it is now and during all of said time was printed 5 . "Darkness" means that period between authorized on a particular body of water.
in an office maintained at the aforesaid place of publication one ( 1) hour after sunset and one (1) hour 2. Vessels shall not exceed a maximum
before sunrise. speed of forty (40) miles per hour on all wa- '
6. "Diver ' s flag" means a red flag, five (5) ters of the City, except the Columbia River.
units of measurement on the hoist by six (6) 3 . Vessels shall not exceed posted speed
2 0 81 units of measurement on the fly with a white limits. '
of said newspaper , that the ORDINANCE 1�T4 . 4. Regardless of the forty 40 mile per ,
stripe of one (1) unit crossing the red diago - g rty ( ) p
pally, the flag having a stiffener to make it hour speed limit contained in sub-section 2 1
stand out from the pole or mast. This flag above or the lesser posted speed limit, the
shall pertain to skin and scuba (self- con - vessel shall be operated in a careful and
tained underwater breathing apparatus) prudent manner and at a speed no greater
diving and shall supplement any nationally than is reasonable and proper under the
recognized diver 's flag or marking. A unit of conditions at the time and place of opera-
measurement shall not be less than two (2) tion , taking into account the amount and
a printed copy of which is hereto annexed , was published in the inches. character of traffic, size of the waters, free=
one 7. "Livery" means the business of renting dom from obstruction to view ahead, and so
entire issue of said newspaper for
successive and consecutive weeks in the following issues ; or leasing boats.
as not to unreasonably endanger persons or
8. " Marina" means a facility providing Property or other rights of any person euh-
Ju 1 3 19 9 6 boat moors e space, fuel or commercial tled to the use of such waters. The operator
Issue date Y r g p •
services . Commercial services include but of any vessel shall be responsible for its
are not limited to overnight or live- aboard Fake and any damage or injuries caused by
accommodations. a wake from its vehicle.
Issue date 9 . " Motor driven boats and vessels " Section IV
means all boats and vessels which are self Exemption of Authorized Emergency
propelled . Vessels . The foregoing speed restrictions
Issue date 10. " Operate" means to steer, direct, or shall not apply to any authorized emer-
otherwise have physical control of a vessel gency vessel responding to an emergency or
that is underway. in pursuant of an actual or suspect violator
11 . " Operator" means an individual who of the law.
Issue date steers, directs , or otherwise has physical Section V
control of a vessel that is underway or exec- Obedience to Peace Officer. No person
cises actual authority to control the person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with
the direction of a peace officer, who is at the
Issue date at the helm.
12. "Owner" means a person who has a time discharging the duty of regulating and
lawful right to possession of a vessel by pur- directing waterborne traffic.
chase, exchange, gift, lease, inheritance, or Section VI
Issue datelegal action whether or not the vessel is sub - Refusal to Give Information or Cooperate.
ject to a security interest. It is unlawful for any person while operating
The fee charged for the above publication was : 13 . "Personal flotation device" means a or in charge of any vessel to refuse when re-
buoyancy device, life preserver, buoyant Quested by a peace officer to give his name
$ 222 . 30 vest, ring buoy, or buoy cushion that is de - and address and the name and address of the
signed to float a person in the water and that owner of the vessel, or to give a false name
is approved by the commission . and address to such peace officer.
14. " Personal watercraft" means a vessel Section VII
of less than sixteen feet that uses a motor Overloading and Overpowering. No per-
Pub ' sher powering a water jet pump, as its primary son shall knowingly load or power a vessel
source of motive power and that is designed beyond the maximum capacity specified by
-- to be operated by a person sitting, standing, the manufacturer for such vessel.
or kneeling on, or being towed behind the Penalty. Violation of any of the regula -
Subscribed and sworn to before me this tions of this chapter shall constitute a misde -
Underwater Diving. meanor until the violation is included in a
1 . Underwater diving is prohibited unless civil infraction monetary schedule adopted
da � � the diver is within two hundred (200) feet of by rule by the State Supreme Court pur-
y of , 19 a properly displayed diver 's flag as required
by federal law. suant to Chapter 7 . 84 , Revised Code of
Washington .
r 2. It is unlawful to operate a vessel iwex-. Section XVII
cess of slow-no-wake speed within two hun - Effective Date. This ordinance shall take
Notary Public in and for the -
State of Washington ,
Residing at Camas , Washington21996
Pas: 'i4s �t