RECKLESS OPERATION 

Upon observing any vessel being used in violation of the boating laws in any of the following ways, the Harbor Master may order the operator to take any immediate reasonable steps that may be necessary for the safety of those aboard the vessel, including ordering the operator to proceed at a location designated by the Harbor Master, and to remain there until the situation creating the hazard is remedied or ended;

• Without sufficient lifesaving equipment;
• With improper navigation light display;
• In an overloaded condition;
• With an accumulation of fuel in the bilge compartment;
• With leaky fuel lines;
• Without sufficient firefighting equipment;
• Without a Coast Guard-approved backflame arrester;
• With inadequate ventilation; or
• With any other unsafe condition, and when, in his judgment, such use creates a hazardous condition, may order the operator to take such immediate reasonable steps as may be necessary for the safety of those aboard the vessel, including ordering the operator to proceed to a location designated by him and to remain there until the situation creating the hazard is remedied or ended.

Upon observing any vessel being used in violation of this chapter in any of the following ways, the Fire Chief may order the operator to take any immediate reasonable steps that may be necessary for the safety of those aboard the vessel, including ordering the operator to proceed to a location designated by the Fire Chief, and to remain there until the situation creating the hazard is remedied or ended:

• With an accumulation of fuel in the bilge compartment;
• With leaky fuel lines;
• Without sufficient firefighting equipment;
• Without a Coast Guard-approved backflame arrester;
• With inadequate ventilation; or

With any other unsafe condition that, in the Fire Chief’s judgment, created a hazardous condition.

Entering Designated or Restricted Areas

Except with the permission of the Harbor Master, no owner, operator, or person otherwise in charge or control of any vessel shall allow that vessel to enter into or remain in any area in District of Columbia waters designated by the Mayor or other proper authority as a restricted area for use for a regatta, race, marine parade, marine tournament, marine exhibition, or similar organized aquatic event, or designated by the Harbor Master or other proper authority as a restricted area in the vicinity of an emergency.

The Harbor Master shall remove, or cause to be removed, and may impound any vessel entering into or remaining in any restricted area without his or her permission.

• Any owner, operator, or person otherwise in charge or control of a vessel who enters into a restricted area, or fails or refuses to remove the vessel from a restricted area, shall be in violation of this section.
• Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the passage through restricted areas of vessels operated by the governments of the United States or District of Columbia.
• This section and other applicable provisions of this chapter shall be controlling as to any aquatic event held in District of Columbia waters, except to the extent that they are inconsistent or in conflict with any laws or regulations administered by the Coast Guard relating to a particular aquatic event held under the supervision of the Coast Guard.
• Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as amending, superseding, or in any way changing the prohibition against diving.

Anacostia River Drawbridge

The person in charge of the new Anacostia Bridge shall display a green semaphore by day and a green light at night upon each operation house while the draw is open, and a red flag by day and a red light at night at the center of the draw while the draw is closed.