(A) No person shall operate on the waters of Lake Erie or the immediately connecting bays, harbors, and anchorage areas at any time a vessel that is sixteen or more feet in length or any vessel carrying six or fewer passengers for hire without carrying coast guard approved visual distress signals for both day and night use.

(B) No person shall operate upon the waters of Lake Erie or the immediately connecting bays, harbors, and anchorage areas during the period from sunset to sunrise according to local time any of the following without carrying coast guard approved visual distress signals for night use:

(1) A vessel less than sixteen feet in length;

(2) A vessel competing in an organized marine parade, race, regatta, or similar event;

(3) A manually propelled vessel;

(4) A sailboat less than twenty-six feet in length with completely open construction and without propulsion machinery.

(C) No person shall operate a vessel on the waters in this state other than Lake Erie or the immediately connecting bays, harbors, and anchorage areas unless the vessel carries either a distress flag at least two feet square and international orange in color or a coast guard approved daytime distress signal.

(D) No person shall display any distress signal unless a vessel or a person is in distress and in need of help.

(E) Divisions (A) and (C) of this section do not apply to any of the following:

(1) Vessels competing in an organized marine parade, race, regatta, or similar event;

(2) Manually propelled vessels;

(3) Sailboats less than twenty-six feet in length with completely open construction and without propulsion machinery.

(F) The distress signals required by this section shall be in good and serviceable condition, readily accessible, and of the type and quantities required by regulations adopted under 46 U.S.C. 4302, as amended.

(G) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel on the waters in this state in violation of this section.

Effective Date: 03-18-1999.