Chapter 2: Kansas Laws and Safety Equipment

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks officers and all other peace officers enforce the boating laws of Kansas. U. S. Coast Guard officers also patrol and have enforcement authority on federally controlled waters. Kansas conservation officers and all other officers with law enforcement authority have the right to stop and board vessels in order to check for compliance with state and federal laws.

No operator of a vessel shall willfully fail or refuse to bring such vessel to a stop, or otherwise flee or attempt to elude a pursuing law enforcement vehicle or vessel, when given a visual or audible signal to bring the operator's vessel to a stop. The signal may be given by hand, voice, emergency light or siren and shall be given by a uniformed law enforcement officer prominently displaying the officer's badge of office.

Definitions

"Vessel" means any watercraft designed to be propelled by machinery, oars, paddles or wind action upon a sail for navigation on the water.

"Motorboat" means any vessel propelled by machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion.

"Owner" means a person, other than a lien-holder, having the property in or title to a vessel. The term includes a person entitled to the use or possession of a vessel subject to an interest in another person, reserved or created by agreement and securing payment or performance of an obligation, but the term excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as security.

"Waters of this state" means any waters within the territorial limits of this state.

"Person" means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, or other entity.

"Operate" means to navigate or otherwise use a motorboat or a vessel.

"Department" means the Kansas department of wildlife and parks.

"Secretary" means the secretary of wildlife and parks.

"Length" means the length of the vessel measured from end to end over the deck excluding sheer.

"Operator" means the person who operates or has charge of the navigation or use of a motorboat or a vessel.

"Undocumented vessel" means a vessel which is not required to have, and does not have, a valid marine document issued by the United States coast guard or federal agency successor thereto.

"Reportable boating accident" means an accident, collision or other casualty involving a vessel subject to this act which results in loss of life, injury sufficient to require first aid or medical attention, or actual physical damage to property, including a vessel, in excess of an amount established by rules and regulations adopted by the secretary in accordance with K.S.A. 32-805 and amendments thereto.

"Marine sewage" means any substance that contains any of the waste products, excrement or other discharges from the bodies of human beings or animals, or foodstuffs or materials associated with foodstuffs intended for human consumption.

"Marine toilet" means any latrine, head, lavatory or toilet which is intended to receive marine sewage and which is located on or in any vessel.

"Passenger" means any individual who obtains passage or is carried in or on a vessel.

"Sail board" means a surfboard using for propulsion a free sail system comprising one or more swivel-mounted rigs (mast, sail and booms) supported in an upright position by the crew and the wind.