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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59480</law_id><section_number>29.1-744.4</section_number><catch_line>&amp;#8220;Pass-through&amp;#8221; zones; local ordinances; penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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><p>After providing notice to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, any locality may, by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, establish &#x201C;pass-through&#x201D; zones in any portion of a waterway within its territorial limits where congestion of watercraft traffic routinely poses a significant safety risk to persons in such designated area. The <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall provide that while in a pass-through zone, operators of watercraft shall maintain a reasonable and safe speed and shall be prohibited from stopping, anchoring, loitering, or otherwise engaging in recreational activity. The locality shall clearly identify pass-through zones by buoys or other markers that conform to the general requirements as established by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> for similar buoys or markers. The locality may provide for enforcement and penalties, not to exceed a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>, for the violation of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>.</p></section></text><history>2003, c. 780.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
