23 LC 39 3667
H. B. 207
- 1 -
House Bill 207
By: Representatives Rhodes of the 124
th
, Corbett of the 174
th
, Ridley of the 6
th
, Williams of
the 148
th
, and LaHood of the 175
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
1
relating to general provisions relative to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as2
to provide for the carrying of night visual distress signals upon coastal waters of this state3
during certain hours; to provide for the carrying of such signals by vessels of a certain size;4
to update the reference date to department rules and regulations relating to criminal5
violations relating to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft; to provide for related6
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
SECTION 1.9
Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to10
general provisions relative to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, is amended in11
Code Section 52-7-8, relating to classification of vessels and required equipment, by revising12
subsections (e) and (f) as follows:13
"(e) All vessels, when operated upon the coastal waters of the state
between the hours of14
sunset and sunrise shall carry the United States Coast Guard approved night visual distress15
signal. If a pyrotechnic visual distress signal is carried, a minimum of three unexpired16 23 LC 39 3667
H. B. 207
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visual distress signals shall be carried in the vessel. Pyrotechnic night visual distress
17
signals are handheld red flare distress signals, parachute red flare distress signals with18
launcher, hand-held rocket-propelled
rocket propelled parachute red flare distress signals,19
or red aerial pyrotechnic flare. Nonpyrotechnic nighttime visual distress signals include20
one electric distress light meeting the standards of 46 C.F.R. Subpart 161.013. One electric21
distress light shall meet the nighttime requirement.22
(f) All vessels, except recreational vessels that are less than 16 feet in length,23
nonmotorized open sailboats that are less than 26 feet in length, and manually propelled24
vessels, when operated upon the coastal waters of the state between the hours of sunrise25
and sunset shall carry the United States Coast Guard approved daytime visual distress26
signals. Pyrotechnic daytime visual distress signals include all night visual distress signals,27
as well as floating orange smoke distress signals and hand-held orange smoke distress28
signals. Nonpyrotechnic daytime visual distress signals include an orange flag meeting the29
standards of 46 C.F.R. Subpart 160.072. One orange flag shall meet the daytime only30
requirement."31
SECTION 2.32
Said article shall be further amended in Code Section 52-7-26, relating to penalty, by revising33
subsection (a) as follows:34
"(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, any person who violates this article or any35
rule or regulation promulgated hereunder shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. For purposes36
of establishing criminal violations of the rules and regulations promulgated by the board37
as provided in this article, the term 'rules and regulations' means those rules and regulations38
of the board in force and effect on January 1, 2022 2023."39
SECTION 3.40
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.41