Missouri Laws 306.124 – Aids to navigation and regulatory markers defined — water patrol may mark ..
1. (1) “Aids to navigation” means buoys, beacons or other fixed objects in the water which are used to mark obstructions to navigation or to direct navigation through safe channels.
(2) “Regulatory markers” means any anchored or fixed markers in or on the water or signs on the shore or on bridges over the water other than aids to navigation and shall include but not be limited to bathing markers, speed zone markers, information markers, danger zone markers, boat keep-out areas, and mooring buoys.
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 306.124
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Operate: to navigate or otherwise use a motorboat or a vessel. See Missouri Laws 306.010
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Property: includes real and personal property. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- United States: includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- water patrol division: the division responsible for enforcing the provisions of this chapter on the waters of this state. See Missouri Laws 306.010
- Watercraft: any boat or craft, including a vessel, used or capable of being used as a means of transport on waters. See Missouri Laws 306.010
- Waters of this state: any waters within the territorial limits of this state and lakes constructed or maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers except bodies of water owned by a person, corporation, association, partnership, municipality or other political subdivision, public water supply impoundments, and except drainage ditches constructed by a drainage district, but the term does include any body of water which has been leased to or owned by the state department of conservation. See Missouri Laws 306.010
2. The water patrol division after a public hearing pursuant to notice thereof published not less than ten days prior thereto in each county to be affected may provide for the uniform marking of the water areas in this state through the placement of aids to navigation and regulatory markers. The water patrol division shall establish a marking system compatible with the system of aids to navigation prescribed by the United States Coast Guard. No city, county, or person shall mark or obstruct the water of this state in any manner so as to endanger the operation of watercraft or conflict with the marking system prescribed by the water patrol division.
3. Whenever, due to any actual or imminent man-made or natural disaster, the navigation or use of any waters of this state presents an unreasonable danger to persons or property, the water patrol division may, with the consent of the director of the department of public safety, close such waters.
4. The operation of any watercraft within prohibited areas that are marked shall be prima facie evidence of negligent operation.
5. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a watercraft on the waters of this state in a manner other than that prescribed or permitted by regulatory markers.
6. No person shall moor or fasten a watercraft to or willfully damage, tamper, remove, obstruct, or interfere with any aid to navigation or regulatory marker established pursuant to sections 306.010 to 306.126.