Lake Lansing Property Owners Association

Water Safety Laws

Note: the following is a partial listing of laws relating to water safety. A "Handbook of Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities" can be obtained from the Department of Natural Resources. Click Here to see the handbook.

Wildlife Notice

Wildlife

  • Wildlife is protected by law. Refrain from going near wildlife and stay clear of nesting sites.

Speed Limits and Distance
Note: These requirements pertain to Waterskiing, Tubing and Boating - including Personal Watercraft

  • There is a maximum speed limit of 55 MPH.
  • No-wake speeds must be maintained within 100 feet of docks, shore, rafts (except to pull a skier from the water) - and anywhere the water is less than 2 feet deep.
  • When operating at greater than no-wake speed, must stay at least 100 feet from shore, docks, rafts, stationary boats and 150 feet from rear of another boat.

Times Personal Watercraft (PWC) can be operated

Personal Watercraft are permitted out on the water only betrween 8 am until 1 hour prior to sunset.

Personal Floatation Devices (PFD)

  • Each person riding on or towed behind a Personal Watercraft (PWC) must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, or III personal flotation device. Inflatable PFDs may not be used.
  • Michigan law requires all children under 6 years of age to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved type I or II PFD when riding on the open deck of any vessel.
  • All vessels must be equipped with a Type I, II or III personal floatation device for each person onboard. For a vessel that is less than 16 feet long, or is a canoe or kayak, the PFD can be either Type I, II, III or IV. All must be readily accessible.
  • One Type IV U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD must be onboard vessels 16 feet or longer and readily accessible in addition to the other requirements.

Registration

  • A Registration Card and Validation Decals must be obtained and displayed properly to operate any vessel. The only exceptions are:
    • Privately owned non-motorized canoe, kayak, or rowboat of length 16 feet or less
    • Vessels with valid registration in another state or country temporarily on the waters of Michigan.
  • The Registration card must be onboard and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is being operated.
  • Registration cards and validation decals are obtained from any Secretary of State branch office. Registrations are valid for three years and may be renewed over the internet at www.michigan.gov/sos/ or at any Secretary of State branch office.

Requirements to Operate a Boat
(Note: requirements to operate a Personal Watercraft are different - see below)

Those less than 12 years of age:

  • May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower without restrictions.
  • May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 horsepower only if they are directly supervised onboard by a person at least 16 years of age.
  • May not legall operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 horsepower under any conditions.

Those 12 to 15 years of age:

  • May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower without restrictions.
  • My legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 horsepower ony if they
    • Have passed a boating safety course approved by the Department of Natural Resources and have onboard their boating safety certificate
      - or
    • Are accompanied onboard by a person at least 16 years of age.

Those 16 years of age or older:

  • May operate any boat on the waters of Michigan.

Requirements to Operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC)
(Note: requirements to operate a Personal Watercraft are different from those to operate a boat)

  • No one less than 12 years old may legally operate a PWC.
  • 12 and 13 year olds may operate a PWC only if they obtained a valid boating safety certificate prior to January 1, 1999 - or all of the following conditions are satisfied:
    • The person is accompanied solely by his or her parent or legal guardian.
    • Both the person and the parent or legal guardian have obtained a boating safety certificate.
    • The PWC is equipped with a lanyard-type ignition safety switch and the parent or legal guardfian has the lanyard attached to his or her person, clothing or PFD (life jacket).
    • The PWC is designed to carry at least two people.
  • 14 year olds and older born after December 31, 1978 must have a boating safety certificate to operate a personal watercraft. Those born December 31, 1978, or earlier may operate PWC without restrictions.

 

The Safety Committee Chairperson for the Lake Lansing Property Owners Association is Tim McCarthy. Contact Tim by email at safety@lakelansing.org.

©2004 - 2008  Lake Lansing Property Owners Association