Vessels: violations.

Existing law makes a person who moors a vessel to, or hangs on with a vessel to, a buoy or beacon, except as provided, guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would instead make a person who violates that provision guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine of not more than $100. Existing law provides that an owner, operator, or person in command of any vessel propelled by machinery who uses it, or permits it to be used, at a speed in excess of 5 miles per hour in any portion of specified beach, swimming, or boat landing areas, not otherwise regulated by local rules and regulations, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable as specified. This bill would instead make those persons guilty of an infraction, punishable as specified. Existing law makes any person who violates specified regulations governing the piloting of vessels on state waters guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 5 days, or by both that fine and imprisonment, for each violation. This bill would instead make any person who violates specified regulations relating to proper operation of blinding lights or navigation lights guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine of not more than $100. Existing law makes any person who violates specified standards for vessels and associated equipment guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 6 months, or by both that fine and imprisonment. This bill would make any person who violates certain standards for those vessels and associated equipment by riding on the bow, gunwale, or transom of a vessel propelled by machinery, or who violates certain other regulations prescribing safety requirements for vessels guilty of an infraction, and would impose specified fines for those violations.