§ 8-166. Speed limits in waterways.

(a)

Idle Speed No Wake. The following areas are designated boating restricted areas where vessels must proceed no faster than Idle Speed No Wake, unless lawfully engaged in watersports activities in a designated watersports activities area:

(1)

Florida Intracoastal Waterway. The state has designated certain areas of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway within the city limits as restricted areas, set forth below, within which the Idle Speed No Wake limit shall apply:

a.

The section of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway from a sign posted adjacent to the waterway and lying between Southeast 18th and 19th Streets on the south, and another sign adjacent to the Waterway located east of Southeast 14th Street on the north.

b.

The section of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway from a point lying fifteen hundred (1,500) feet to the north of the East Las Olas Boulevard Bridge to a point on the south designated by Intracoastal Marker No. 14.

c.

The section of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway seven hundred fifty (750) yards north and five hundred (500) yards south of the East Sunrise Boulevard Bridge.

d.

The section of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway five hundred (500) yards north and five hundred (500) yards south of the East Oakland Park Boulevard Bridge.

e.

The section of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway seven hundred (700) feet north and one thousand (1,000) feet south of the East Commercial Boulevard Bridge.

(2)

New River, Middle River, George English Park Lagoon and Rio Barcelona Canal. Certain areas of New River, Middle River, the George English Park Lagoon and Rio Barcelona Canal have been designated as restricted marine areas, set forth below, within which the Idle Speed No Wake limit shall apply:

a.

The section of New River from Tarpon Bend to one hundred (100) feet up river of the junction of the north and south forks of New River.

b.

The section of New River from Crevalle Canal on the south fork of New River westerly to the corporate limits of the city.

c.

The area of Middle River from Northeast 21st Court (Coral Ridge side) north to the Bridge at U.S. Highway No. 1 (North Federal Highway).

d.

The area of Middle River lying between the Sunrise Boulevard Bridge on the north and a point opposite the south property line of Lot 21 of Gateway Park on the south.

e.

The George English Park Lagoon lying north and east of the Sunrise Boulevard Bridge.

f.

The Rio Barcelona Canal lying between Hendricks Isle Drive (N.E. 18th Avenue) and Middle River.

g.

The area of Middle River lying between the Sunrise Boulevard Bridge and a point four hundred fifty-four (454) feet north thereof.

(3)

All of Sylvan Lake, as bounded on the east and south by East Lake Drive, on the west by West Lake Drive and a portion of Isla Bahia Drive, and on the north by a line drawn between the northern terminus of East Lake Drive and the northern boundary of Lot 7 of the plat of Isla Bahia.

(4)

The Idle Speed No Wake limit shall apply on any waterway not otherwise regulated with a speed or wake limit by the city or state, other than the Florida Intracoastal Waterway.

(b)

Slow Speed Minimum Wake. The following areas are designated boating restricted areas where vessels must proceed no faster than Slow Speed Minimum Wake, unless lawfully engaged in watersports activities in a boating restricted area designated for watersports activities:

(1)

Florida Intracoastal Waterways, New River and Stranahan River. Certain areas of the Florida Intracoastal Waterways, New River and Stranahan River have been designated as restricted marine areas, set forth below, in which the slow down minimum wake limit shall apply:

a.

The section of South Fork, New River from a point one hundred (100) feet upriver of the junction of the north and south forks of New River to Crevalle Canal.

b.

The section of New River from Tarpon Bend easterly to the Intracoastal Waterway.

c.

The Sospiro Canal from New River through Rio Navarro and Karen Canal to Rio Barcelona.

d.

The section of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway and Stranahan River from shoreline to shoreline, lying between a point on the north designated by Intracoastal Marker No. 14 and on the south by the regulatory sign in the Waterway located east of Southeast 14th Street.

(c)

Watersports activities area. The following areas are designated watersports activities areas where single engine vessels not exceeding twenty-one (21) feet as set forth on the State of Florida vessel registration may engage in watersports activities and all other vessels not lawfully engaged in watersports activities must operate in accordance with the speed and wake limitations within the applicable boating restricted area.

(1)

The area of Middle River, except those areas designated Idle Speed No Wake, lying between Northeast 21st Court and the intersection with the Intracoastal Waterway;

(2)

All of Sylvan Lake, as bounded on the east and south by East Lake Drive, on the west by West Lake Drive and a portion of Isla Bahia Drive, and on the north by a line drawn between the northern terminus of East Lake Drive and the northern boundary of Lot 7 of the Plat of Isla Bahia;

(3)

Rio Barcelona Canal lying between Hendricks Isle Drive (N.E. 18th Avenue) and Middle River;

(4)

Sunrise Bay; and

(5)

Mills Pond Park Lake.

(d)

Fire boats. The operator of a city fire boat, when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exceed the maximum speed limits for vessels set forth in this section, so long as he does not endanger life or property.

(Code 1953, §§ 11-26(1), (2), 11-39; Ord. No. C-68-23, § 2, 6-4-68; Ord. No. C-71-43, § 1, 5-18-71; Ord. No. C-72-24, § 1, 4-4-72; Ord. No. C-72-93, § 1, 12-5-72; Ord. No. C-73-47, § 1, 5-15-73; Ord. No. C-74-48, § 1, 5-7-74; Ord. No. C-75-19, § 1, 3-4-75; Ord. No. C-75-70, § 1, 7-15-75; Ord. No. C-76-7, § 1, 1-20-76; Ord. No. C-77-127, §§ 1, 2, 9-20-77; Ord. No. C-78-13, § 1, 2-7-78; Ord. No. C-78-115, § 1, 12-19-78; Ord. No. C-79-37, § 1, 5-1-79; Ord. No. C-80-25, § 1, 4-1-80; Ord. No. C-81-6, § 1, 1-20-81; Ord. No. C-81-46, § 1, 7-7-81; Ord. No. C-84-90, § 1, 10-16-84; Ord. No. C-87-32, § 1, 4-21-87; Ord. No. C-88-49, § 1, 7-6-88; Ord. No. C-90-5, § 1, 2-6-90; Ord. No. C-91-18, § 1, 4-16-91; Res. No. 91-241, § 1, 11-19-91; Ord. No. C-93-34, § 1, 6-2-93; Ord. No. C-94-31, § 1, 9-7-94; Ord. No. C-95-12, § 1, 4-4-95; Ord. No. C-97-46, § 1, 11-4-97; Ord. No. C-98-26, § 2, 4-21-98; Ord. No. C-01-12, § 2, 4-5-01; Ord. No. C-01-20, § 1, 6-5-01; Ord. No. C-01-37, § 1, 9-20-01)

State law reference

Reckless or careless operation of vessel, F.S. § 327.33.