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Alcohol & Boating Under the Influence (BUI)

Nevada law prohibits the operation of a powerboat, sailboat, personal watercraft (PWC), water skis, sailboard, or similar device under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A boater can be charged with Operating Under the Influence (OUI) under the following conditions:

• He/she has a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .08% or more.
• He/she is under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance to a degree that renders him/her incapable of safely operating the vessel.

Nevada law imposes serious penalties for Operating Under the Influence (OUI):

• OUI convictions may face up to 6 months jail time and fines up to $1,000 plus court costs and testing fees.
• If an operator in convicted of OUI that results in the death or serious injury to another person, he/she will face felony charges that are punishable by fines up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to 20 years.

Operators on Nevada waters have given "implied" consent to evidentiary alcohol testing if an officer has reasonable suspicion.

There is no right to
refuse the test!

Nevada Boat Registration

The NDOW is responsible for regulating the state boating laws in Nevada.

All vessels propelled by machinery, including gasoline, diesel and electric motors, and principally operated on Nevada waters must be registered and issued a Nevada Certificate of Number (Registration) by the NDOW.

If the transaction is a...	then your fee is...
Title	$20.00
Annual Registration of a vessel (by length*) less than 13 feet	$20.00
Annual Registration of a vessel (by length*) 13 feet to less than 18 feet	$25.00
Annual Registration of a vessel (by length*) 18 feet to less than 22 feet	$40.00
Annual Registration of a vessel (by length*) 22 feet to less than 26 feet	$55.00
Annual Registration of a vessel (by length*) 26 feet to less than 31 feet	$75.00
Annual Registration of a vessel (by length*) 31 feet and over	$100.00
Duplicate Decals	$100.00
Duplicate title	$20.00
Transfer title of a used vessel (residents)	$20.00
Transfer title of a used vessel (non-residents)	$20.00
Transfer title of a new vessel	$20.00
*Measured from the outside of the bow to the outside of the stern.

Successful registration results in a Certificate of Number, physical boat numbers and a decal. Boat numbers must:

• Be affixed on both sides of the bow;
• Be block letters, three inches high and contrasting with the color of your boat;
• Numbers and letters must be separated by a space or a hyphen.

For example: NV 1234 BX or NV-1234-BX. This is a federal and state requirement.

When received, decals must be placed within 6 inches of the registration numbers on each side of the boat. The decal must be in line with the registration numbers and extend toward the rear of the boat.

Lack of the correct documentation may result in delays and fines.

Make sure all boats are properly marked and documented. It is important to keep your papers with the boat – be particularly aware when transferring ownership of your vessel.

Aquatic Nuisance Species

Non-native aquatic species, plants, fish and animals are invading Nevada's waters. These pests can increase dramatically under the right conditions, displacing native species, clogging waterways, and impacting navigation and recreation. Once introduced, they are nearly impossible to eliminate. Hydrilla, Egeria Densa, water hyacinth and zebra mussels are nuisance species that can be accidentally transported by recreational boaters when caught in propellers, intakes or attached to hulls.

• Inspect your boat and remove aquatic plants or animals before you leave any body of water.
• Flush raw-water cooling systems and clean sea strainers before moving your boat from one body of water to another.
• Empty bait buckets and remove any plant fragments from bait wells, fishing gear, trailers, dive gear or props. Dispose on land into a garbage receptacle.

• Drain water from your motor, live wells and bilge.
• Wash your boat before putting it into a new body of water.
• Report new infestation of non-native aquatic species to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Nevada aquatic invasive species (AIS) decal requirement became effective January 1, 2013 through approval from the Nevada State Legislature in 2011. The AIS decal requirement was established to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic species threatening Nevada’s waterways. The decal supports AIS monitoring and analysis, provides AIS prevention through outreach and education, and provides seasonal watercraft inspections and decontamination stations. The AIS decal also supports enforcement of AIS prevention laws. Many aquatic invasive species, including quagga and zebra mussels, have been transferred from one body of water to another through contaminated watercraft. Remember to always clean, drain and dry.

The decal requirement includes in and out-of-state motorized watercraft as well as most paddle-craft, such as canoes and kayaks. Watercraft that are capable of retaining water are required to display the decal. Paddle-craft, such as stand-up paddle boards and float tubes are exempt from the decal requirement.

Purchase of the decal is based on a calendar year. The cost of the decal falls into four categories:

Decal Category	Fee
Resident Non-Motorized Watercraft	$5
Resident Motorized Watercraft	$10
Nonresident Non-Motorized Watercraft	$10
Nonresident Motorized Watercraft	$20

Personal Watercraft Laws & Regulations

Do not underestimate PWCs – they are very powerful for their small size and demand the same respect as any boat. In fact, PWC operation must adhere to the same rules and regulations as any other powerboat – including registration with the state and a B-1 class fire extinguisher aboard.

PWCs have some additional requirements:

• The operator as well as all passengers of a PWC must be wearing a Coast Guard approved PFD. 
• PWC operators must carry a USCG-approved fire extinguisher and a sound-producing device onboard.
• When towing someone on a tube or on water skis there must be capacity on the PWC to accommodate the operator, the observer as well as the tuber/skier(s).

• Vessels nearing each other must operate at wake speed when within 5 lengths of the longest vessel. This eliminates wake jumping.
• Vessels within 200 feet of a beach frequented by swimmers must operate at no-wake speed. (This rule applies to all powered vessels).

Nevada Lanyard Law

When operating a boat equipped with an engine cutoff lanyard, boaters are required to wear the device anytime the boat is moving at a speed greater than a no wake speed (5 mph).

The engine cutoff lanyard, sometimes referred to as a "kill switch" is a short piece of string or coiled material that connects to the boat operator and to the boat console. When the operator falls overboard or otherwise moves too far from the helm, the lanyard is pulled free and the boat engine is automatically shut off.

Hours of Operation

PWCs may only be operated between the hours of sunrise and sunset unless equipped with the proper navigation lights.

Age Requirements

No one under the age of 14 can operate a PWC on Nevada waters.