Chapter 30

30.684(3)(a) (a) Additional chemical test. If a person is arrested for a violation of the intoxicated boating law or is the operator of a motorboat involved in an accident resulting in great bodily harm to or the death of someone and if the person is requested to provide a sample or to submit to a test under sub. (1) (a), the person may request the test facility to administer the additional chemical test specified under sub. (2) (c) or, at his or her own expense, reasonable opportunity to have any qualified person administer a chemical test of his or her breath, blood or urine for the purpose of authorized analysis.

30.684(3)(b) (b) Optional test. If a person is arrested for a violation of the intoxicated boating law and if the person is not requested to provide a sample or to submit to a test under sub. (1) (a), the person may request the test facility to administer a chemical test of his or her breath or, at his or her own expense, reasonable opportunity to have any qualified person administer a chemical test of his or her breath, blood or urine for the purpose of authorized analysis. If a test facility is unable to perform a chemical test of breath, the person may request the test facility to administer the designated chemical test under sub. (2) (b) or the additional chemical test under sub. (2) (c).

30.684(3)(c) (c) Compliance with request. A test facility shall comply with a request under this subsection to administer any chemical test it is able to perform.

30.684(3)(d) (d) Inability to obtain chemical test. The failure or inability of a person to obtain a chemical test at his or her own expense does not preclude the admission of evidence of the results of a chemical test required and administered under subs. (1) and (2).

30.684(4) (4) Admissibility; effect of test results; other evidence. The results of a chemical test required or administered under sub. (1), (2) or (3) are admissible in any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of the acts committed by a person alleged to have violated the intoxicated boating law on the issue of whether the person was under the influence of an intoxicant or the issue of whether the person had alcohol concentrations at or above specified levels or a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in his or her blood. Results of these chemical tests shall be given the effect required under s. 885.235. This section does not limit the right of a law enforcement officer to obtain evidence by any other lawful means.

30.684(5) (5) Refusal. No person may refuse a lawful request to provide one or more samples of his or her breath, blood or urine or to submit to one or more chemical tests under sub. (1). A person shall not be deemed to refuse to provide a sample or to submit to a chemical test if it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the refusal was due to a physical inability to provide the sample or to submit to the test due to a physical disability or disease unrelated to the use of an intoxicant. Issues in any action concerning violation of sub. (1) or this subsection are limited to:

30.684(5)(a) (a) Whether the law enforcement officer had probable cause to believe the person was violating or had violated the intoxicated boating law.

30.684(5)(b) (b) Whether the person was lawfully placed under arrest for violating the intoxicated boating law.

30.684(5)(c) (c) Whether the law enforcement officer requested the person to provide a sample or to submit to a chemical test and provided the information required under sub. (1) (b) or whether the request and information was unnecessary under sub. (1) (c).

30.684(5)(d) (d) Whether the person refused to provide a sample or to submit to a chemical test.

30.684 History History: 1985 a. 331; 1987 a. 3; 1993 a. 105; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 2003 a. 97; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2013 a. 224.

30.684 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. NR 5.22, Wis. adm. code.

30.686 30.686 Report arrest to department. If a law enforcement officer arrests a person for a violation of the intoxicated boating law or the refusal law, the law enforcement officer shall notify the department of the arrest as soon as practicable.

30.686 History History: 1985 a. 331.

30.687 30.687 Officer’s action after arrest for violating intoxicated boating law. A person arrested for a violation of the intoxicating boating law, may not be released until 12 hours have elapsed from the time of his or her arrest or unless a chemical test administered under s. 30.684 (1) (a) shows that the person has an alcohol concentration of 0.05 or less, but the person may be released to his or her attorney, spouse, relative or other responsible adult at any time after arrest.

30.687 History History: 1985 a. 331; 1995 a. 436.

30.69 30.69 Water skiing.

30.69(1) (1) Prohibited at certain times; exceptions.

30.69(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may operate a motorboat towing a person on water skis, aquaplane, or similar device unless one of the following applies:

30.69(1)(a)1. 1. There is in the motorboat a competent person in addition to the operator in a position to observe the progress of the person being towed.

30.69(1)(a)2. 2. Subject to s. 30.77 (3) (ab), the motorboat is equipped with a mirror that provides the operator with a wide field of vision to the rear.

30.69(1)(ag) (ag) An observer under par. (a) 1. shall be considered competent if that person can in fact observe the person being towed and relay any signals to the operator. This observer requirement does not apply to motorboats classified as Class A motorboats by the department actually operated by the persons being towed and so constructed as to be incapable of carrying the operator in or on the motorboat.

30.69(1)(am) (am) No person may engage in water skiing, aquaplaning, or similar activity, at any time from sunset to sunrise. This restriction of the hours of water skiing does not prevent restrictions of the hours of water skiing between sunrise and sunset by local ordinances enacted pursuant to s. 30.77 (3).

30.69(1)(b) (b) Paragraphs (a), (ag), and (am) do not apply to duly authorized water ski tournaments, competitions, exhibitions, or trials therefor, where adequate lighting is provided.

30.69(1)(c) (c) In addition to complying with pars. (a), (ag), and (am), no person may operate a personal watercraft that is towing a person who is on water skis, an aquaplane, or similar device unless the personal watercraft is designed to seat at least 3 persons.

30.69(2) (2) Careful and prudent operation. A person operating a motorboat having in tow a person on water skis, aquaplane or similar device shall operate such boat in a careful and prudent manner and at a reasonable distance from persons and property so as not to endanger the life or property of any person.

30.69(3) (3) Restrictions.

30.69(3)(a) (a) No person operating a motorboat that is towing persons engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity may operate the motorboat within 100 feet of any occupied anchored boat, any personal watercraft or any marked swimming area or public boat landing.

30.69(3)(b) (b) No person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity may get within 100 feet of a personal watercraft or allow the tow rope while in use to get within 100 feet of a personal watercraft.

30.69(3)(c) (c) No person may operate a personal watercraft within 100 feet of any of the following:

30.69(3)(c)1. 1. A motorboat towing a person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity.

30.69(3)(c)2. 2. The tow rope of a motorboat towing a person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity.

30.69(3)(c)3. 3. A person who is engaged in water skiing, aquaplaning or similar activity.

30.69(3)(d) (d) Paragraphs (a) to (c) do not apply to pickup or drop areas that are marked with regulatory markers and that are open to operators of personal watercraft and to persons and motorboats engaged in water skiing or similar activity.

30.69(4) (4) Intoxicated operation. No person may use water skis, an aquaplane or a similar device while under the influence of an intoxicant to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely using water skis, an aquaplane or a similar device, or under the combined influence of an intoxicant and any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely using water skis, an aquaplane or a similar device.

30.69 History History: 1973 c. 302; 1985 a. 331; 1991 a. 257, 315, 316; 1993 a. 437; 2009 a. 31; 2017 a. 163.

30.70 30.70 Skin diving. No person may engage in underwater diving or swimming with the use of swimming fins or skin diving in waters other than marked swimming areas or within 150 feet of shoreline, and no person may engage in underwater diving or swimming with the use of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus in waters other than marked swimming areas, unless the location of such diving or swimming is distinctly marked by diver’s flag, not less than 12 inches high and 15 inches long, displaying one diagonal white stripe 3 inches wide on a red background, and of height above the water so as to be clearly apparent at a distance of 100 yards under normal conditions, and so designed and displayed as to be visible from any point on the horizon. Except in case of emergency, anyone engaging in such diving or swimming shall not rise to the surface outside of a radius of 50 feet from such flag. No person engaged in such diving or swimming shall interfere with the operation of anyone fishing nor engage in such diving or swimming in established traffic lanes; nor shall any such person alone or with another, intentionally or unintentionally, block or obstruct any boat in any manner from proceeding to its destination where a reasonable alternative is unavailable. A reasonable alternative route is available when the otherwise unobstructed boat can proceed to its destination without reducing its lawful speed, by passing to the right or to the left of a marked diving operation.

30.70 History History: 1973 c. 302.

30.71 30.71 Disposal of waste from boats equipped with toilets.

30.71(1) (1) In this section, “outlying waters” has the meaning given in s. 29.001 (63).

30.71(2) (2) No person may, while maintaining or operating any boat equipped with toilets on the waters of this state, dispose of any toilet wastes in any manner into the water.

30.71(3) (3) No person may operate for compensation or reward an establishment that has the capacity of providing berths or moorings to 5 or more boats that are equipped with toilets and that is located on an outlying water of this state unless the establishment provides adequate fixed onshore disposal facilities for disposal of toilet wastes from the boats for which the establishment provides berths or moorings. If the establishment is unable to provide fixed onshore disposal facilities due to problems of accessibility to the boats, the establishment shall provide adequate portable disposal facilities for these toilet wastes.

30.71(4) (4) Any rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this section shall be promulgated jointly by the department of safety and professional services and the department of natural resources.

30.71 History History: 1977 c. 395; 1979 c. 221; 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (38); 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (1); 1995 a. 27 ss. 1691, 9116 (5); 1997 a. 248, 330; 1999 a. 32; 2011 a. 32.

30.71 Annotation The Mississippi River is an inland water of Wisconsin. The boat toilet law may be enforced on the entire width of the river bordering Minnesota and up to the center of the main channel bordering Iowa. 61 Atty. Gen. 167.

30.72 30.72 Watercraft use rules, Lower St. Croix River.

30.72(1) (1) Water surface use rules.

30.72(1)(a) (a) The department shall promulgate rules to govern the operation of boats on the Lower St. Croix River. The rules may restrict any or all of the following:

30.72(1)(a)1. 1. The type of boats which may be used on the waters affected by the rules;

30.72(1)(a)2. 2. The areas of water which may be used by boats;

30.72(1)(a)3. 3. Speed of boats; or

30.72(1)(a)4. 4. The hours during which boating is permitted.

30.72(1)(b) (b) In promulgating the rules required under par. (a), the department shall consider the physical characteristics of the waters affected, their historical uses, shoreland uses and classification, the classification of river segments under the Lower St. Croix national scenic riverway master plan, and any other features unique to the Lower St. Croix River, as well as the views of appropriate officials of counties, cities, villages and towns lying within the affected area, and of appropriate officials of agencies of the federal government and the state of Minnesota which have jurisdiction over the waters of the Lower St. Croix River.

30.72(2) (2) Concurrent regulations required. Rules promulgated under this section are effective upon adoption of laws, rules or regulations providing for similar limitations or prohibitions on the operation and use of boats on the same segments of the Lower St. Croix River by the state of Minnesota or its agencies. In exercising the authority granted by this section, the department may enter into necessary agreements with the federal government and its agencies, or with the state of Minnesota and its agencies under s. 66.0303.

30.72(3) (3) Enforcement. In addition to the enforcement powers granted to the department under s. 30.74 (3), the rules promulgated under this section may be enforceable by officers of water safety patrol units having jurisdiction on waters of the Lower St. Croix River under s. 30.79 (3). All officers so empowered by this section may exercise reciprocal powers which may be conferred upon them by the state of Minnesota or its agencies or political subdivisions relating to enforcement of regulations governing the use or operation of boats on the Lower St. Croix River.

30.72 History History: 1975 c. 208; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (7); 1989 a. 159; 1999 a. 150 s. 672.

30.72 Note NOTE: Chapter 208, laws of 1975, which created this section, contains a statement of legislative purpose in section 1. See the 1975 session law volume.

30.72 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 5.30, 5.31, 5.32, 5.33, 5.34, and 5.36, Wis. adm. code.

30.73 30.73 Use regulations, Brule River.

30.73(1) (1) Prohibited uses. No person may operate, occupy or use any motorboat or any pneumatic inner tube, inflatable raft or similar device on the Brule River or any of its stream tributaries in Douglas County. This subsection does not prohibit a person from operating, occupying or using a noninflatable nonmotorized boat, canoe or kayak.

30.73(2) (2) Exceptions. Subsection (1) does not apply to:

30.73(2)(a) (a) Peace officers or rescue units engaged in emergency operations.

30.73(2)(b) (b) Agents of the department while engaged in fish management or law enforcement activities.

30.73(2)(c) (c) Persons on the Brule River within one mile of its mouth.

30.73(3) (3) Enforcement; littering. The department shall enforce this section and restrictions on littering in the area of the Brule River and its stream tributaries in Douglas County.

30.73(4) (4) Penalty. A person who violates this section is subject to the penalties provided under s. 30.80 (1).

30.73 History History: 1981 c. 303.

30.74 30.74 Additional functions of department.

30.74(1) (1) Boating safety programs.

30.74(1)(a) (a) The department shall establish a program of comprehensive courses on boating safety and operation. These courses shall be offered in cooperation with schools, including tribal schools, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), private clubs and organizations, and may be offered by the department in areas where requested and where other sponsorship is unavailable. The department shall issue certificates to persons 10 years of age or older successfully completing such courses. The department shall prescribe the course content and the form of the certificate.

30.74(1)(am) (am) The department may promulgate rules to establish minimum standards and procedures for the instruction given under s. 30.625 (1) (a).

30.74(1)(b) (b) The department by rule shall set the instruction fee for the course. A person conducting a course or giving instruction under this subsection shall collect the instruction fee from each person who receives instruction. The department may determine the portion of this fee, which may not exceed 50 percent, that the person may retain to defray expenses incurred by the person in conducting the course or giving the instruction. The person shall remit the remainder of the fee or, if nothing is retained, the entire fee to the department. The department shall issue a duplicate certificate of accomplishment to a person who is entitled to a duplicate certificate of accomplishment and who pays a fee of $2.75.

30.74(1)(bn) (bn) A certificate issued to a person under this subsection is valid for life unless revoked by a court under s. 30.80 (2m) or (6) (e) or 938.343 (5).

30.74(1)(c) (c) A valid certificate issued by another state, as defined in s. 115.46 (2) (f), or a province of Canada that is held by a person will be honored if the course content substantially meets that established by the department.

30.74(1)(d) (d) The department shall also prepare and disseminate information on water safety to the public, including the informational pamphlets specified in s. 30.52 (5) (a) 4. and (b) 3.

30.74(2) (2) Uniform navigation aids.

30.74(2)(a) (a) The department by rule shall establish uniform marking of the water areas of this state through the placement of aids to navigation and regulatory markers. These rules shall establish a marking system compatible with the system of aids to navigation prescribed by the U.S. coast guard and shall give due regard to the system of uniform waterway markers approved by the advisory panel of state officials to the merchant marine council, U.S. coast guard. No municipality or person may mark the waters of this state in any manner in conflict with the marking system prescribed by the department. Any regulatory marker or aid to navigation that does not comply with this marking system is considered an unlawful obstruction to navigable waters and may be removed in accordance with law. The department may not prohibit the placement of a regulatory marker or an aid to navigation if it complies with this marking system and if it is being placed pursuant to an ordinance that has been enacted in compliance with s. 30.77.

30.74(2)(b) (b) For purposes of this section “aids to navigation” means buoys, beacons and other fixed objects in the water which are used to mark obstructions to navigation or to direct navigation through safe channels; “regulatory markers” means any anchored or fixed marker in the water or anchored platform on the surface of the water, other than aids to navigation, and shall include but not be limited to bathing beach markers, speed zone markers, information markers, mooring buoys, fishing buoys and restricted activity area markers.

30.74(3) (3) Enforcement. The department shall assist in the enforcement of ss. 30.50 to 30.80 and in connection therewith maintain patrol boats and operate such patrol boats at such times and places as the department deems necessary in the interest of boating safety and the effective enforcement of boating laws.

30.74 History History: 1973 c. 302; 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (38); 1995 a. 152; 1997 a. 198; 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 356 ss. 1e, 10g, 10r; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 302; 2015 a. 89.

30.74 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. NR 5.09 and 5.18, Wis. adm. code.

30.742 30.742 Water exhibitions and races; rules. For water exhibitions or races, the department may promulgate rules that provide exemptions from any of the requirements or restrictions under s. 30.61, 30.62, 30.65, 30.66, 30.678, 30.68 or 30.69.

30.742 History History: 1991 a. 257; 2005 a. 356.

30.745 30.745 Limited jurisdiction for administration and enforcement of navigation aids by municipalities.

30.745(1) (1) Definitions. As used in this section:

30.745(1)(a) (a) “Adjacent outlying waters” means the outlying waters adjacent to the boundaries of a municipality and extending outward for a distance of one-half mile.

30.745(1)(b) (b) “Municipality” means any town, village or city.

30.745(2) (2) Exercise of limited jurisdiction.

30.745(2)(a) (a) Authority to enact ordinances. A municipality may enact by ordinance a navigation aids system and regulations affecting moorings, markers and buoys in adjacent outlying waters if the system and regulations are not in conflict with the uniform navigation aids system established by the department under s. 30.74 (2) or with any county ordinance.