(a) No person shall operate a vessel on any water of this State for towing a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device unless at least one of the following conditions is met:

(1) There is in the vessel a person, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person or persons being towed.

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Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 75A-13

  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Operate: means to navigate or otherwise use or occupy any motorboat or vessel that is afloat. See North Carolina General Statutes 75A-2
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, or other entity. See North Carolina General Statutes 75A-2
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Vessel: means every description of watercraft or structure, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation or habitation on the water. See North Carolina General Statutes 75A-2

(2) The persons being towed wear a personal flotation device.

(3) The vessel is equipped with a rear view mirror.

(b) No person shall operate a vessel on any water of this State towing a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device, nor shall any person engage in water skiing, surfboarding, or similar activity at any time between the hours from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.

(c) The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition.

(d) No person shall operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope, or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, a surfboard, or similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause the water skis, surfboard, or similar device, or any person thereon to collide with any object or person. (1959, c. 1064, s. 13; 2006-185, s. 1.)