<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87020</law_id><section_number>29.1-738</section_number><catch_line>Operating boat or manipulating water skis, etc., in reckless manner or while intoxicated, etc</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-1716</reference><reference>16.1-260</reference><reference>18.2-36.2</reference><reference>18.2-51.5</reference><reference>19.2-187.02</reference><reference>19.2-392.12</reference><reference>19.2-52</reference><reference>19.2-81</reference><reference>29.1-738.01</reference><reference>29.1-738.1</reference><reference>29.1-738.2</reference><reference>29.1-738.3</reference><reference>29.1-738.4</reference><reference>29.1-738.5</reference><reference>29.1-745</reference><reference>46.2-382</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="29.1">Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Boating Laws</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Boating Safety</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No person shall <span class="dictionary">operate</span> any <span class="dictionary">motorboat</span> or <span class="dictionary">vessel</span>, or manipulate any skis, surfboard, or similar device, or engage in any spearfishing while skin diving or scuba diving in a reckless manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person. <a id="paragraph-311575" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-738/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No person shall <span class="dictionary">operate</span> any watercraft, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/29.1-733.2/">29.1-733.2</a>, or <span class="dictionary">motorboat</span> which is <span class="dictionary">underway</span> (i) while such person has a blood alcohol concentration at or greater than the blood alcohol concentration at which it is unlawful to drive or <span class="dictionary">operate</span> a motor vehicle as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Driving motor vehicle, engine, etc., while intoxicated, etc" href="/18.2-266/">18.2-266</a> as indicated by a chemical test administered in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Consent to blood or breath test" href="/29.1-738.2/">29.1-738.2</a>, (ii) while such person is under the influence of alcohol, (iii) while such person is under the influence of any narcotic drug or any other self-administered intoxicant or drug of whatsoever nature, or any combination of such drugs, to a degree which impairs his ability to <span class="dictionary">operate</span> the watercraft or <span class="dictionary">motorboat</span> safely, (iv) while such person is under the combined influence of alcohol and any drug or drugs to a degree which impairs his ability to <span class="dictionary">operate</span> the watercraft or <span class="dictionary">motorboat</span> safely, or (v) while such person has a blood concentration of any of the following substances at a level that is equal to or greater than (a) 0.02 milligrams of cocaine per liter of blood, (b) 0.1 milligrams of methamphetamine per liter of blood, (c) 0.01 milligrams of phencyclidine per liter of blood, or (d) 0.1 milligrams of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine per liter of blood. <a id="paragraph-311576" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-738/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> For purposes of this article, the word &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">operate</span>&#x201D; includes being in actual physical control of a watercraft or <span class="dictionary">motorboat</span> and &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">underway</span>&#x201D; means that a <span class="dictionary">vessel</span> is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground.
			Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-311577" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-738/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1960, c. 500, &#xA7; 62-174.10; 1962, c. 626; 1968, c. 659, &#xA7; 62.1-176; 1987, c. 488; 1988, c. 176; 1989, c. 726; 1994, c. 587; 1996, cc. 929, 1015; 1997, c. 703; 2005, c. 616; 2013, c. 787.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
