LAKE NORMAN MARINE COMMISSI0N
RAFTING
SAFETY ORDINANCE
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
These regulations may be cited as the “Rafting Safety
Regulations”.
SECTION 2. JURISDICTIONAL
BOUNDARIES
These regulations shall be applicable on the waters of Lake Norman, the
Boundaries of which are described in Chapter 1089, House Bill
1324 of The Session Laws of 1969 of the State of North Carolina.
SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS
As used in these regulations, unless the context
clearly requires a
different
meaning:
(a)
“Commission”
means the Lake Norman Marine Commission.
(b)
“Rafting”
means the anchoring, tying, fastening, linking, or joining of any combination
of three (3) or more vessels together.
(c)
“Vessel”
means every type of watercraft or structure used or capable of being used as a
means of transportation or habitation on the water.
(d)
“Shoreline”
means the full pond contour as defined by 760 feet elevation above sea level
and does not include islands unless they fall within 300 yards of the shoreline.
(e)
“Underway”
Neither anchored nor moored to a fixed object.
(f)
“Making Way” Boat
movement attributed to intentional guided motion.
SECTION 4. REGULATIONS
FOR RAFTING
(a)
Rafting
of three (3) to ten (10) vessels shall be conducted at least 100 yards from the
shoreline. Such vessels shall be located
at least 200 yards from any other vessel or group of vessels that are tied or
anchored together. Rafting of eleven
(11) or more vessels shall be conducted at least 300 yards from the shoreline.
Law Enforcement has the right to make all vessels disperse within three hundred
yards of the shoreline, if it they can not determine who was there first,
failure to disperse would constitute a violation of this ordinance.
(b)
One (1)
or two (2) vessels may be tied or anchored within 100 yards of the shoreline, but
they must be at least fifty (50) yards from any other vessel or group of
vessels tied or anchored together.
(c)
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the area know as the Sandbar, rafting and/or anchoring are
prohibited within three hundred yards from shore and to a point defined by
signs installed by the Marine Commission. All vessels in this area must be
underway and making way at no wake speed or greater, and
(d)
In the
area west of the I-77 Causeway, from Exit 28 to Exit 33, rafting and/or
anchoring are prohibited within three hundred yards from shore. All vessels in
this area must be underway and making way at no wake speed or greater.
(e)
The
Commission may place signs stating “NO RAFTING – MAXIMUM FINE $500.00” in areas
where rafting is prohibited.
(f)
A special
event permit that allows rafting in areas where it is otherwise prohibited may be
issued by the Commission. Permit approval
will be conditioned on an assurance by the applicant(s) that reasonable care
will be taken to ensure that residents or boaters in the vicinity of the event will
not be subjected to unreasonably loud or disturbing noise, that event
participants will not engage in any disorderly conduct, and that any islands that
are used will be cleaned-up after the event.
A permit application may be denied if the applicant(s) was/were previously
issued a permit for an event and the event resulted in a serious complaint from
a citizen and/or law enforcement response.
A $50.00 permit application fee will be required. A permit application must be received by the
Commission in writing at least forty-five (45) days before the event.
SECTION 5. VIOLATIONS
Any person who violates the regulations set
forth in Section 4 shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and shall be
subject to a maximum fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each violation.
SECTION 6. ENFORCEMENT
Law enforcement
officers with territorial jurisdiction are
authorized to enforce
these regulations.
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE
These regulations shall take effect on May 15, 2007, and shall
Supersede the
“Rafting Safety Ordinance” dated August
1, 2004.
