For the purposes of this rule, "waters of the district" means
any water areas within the boundaries of any park and any waters under the
management authority of the Medina county park district.
The administrator of the Medina county
park district, or the administrator's designee, may grant written permission
for vessels exceeding the horsepower limits or motor restrictions established
in this rule to operate on waters of the district if it is determined that the
public safety will be adequately protected. Such a permit may be issued to park
district personnel and contracted service providers for law enforcement,
training, rescue, salvage, testing, and maintenance activities when necessary
for safe and efficient operations. Written permission allowing for the
operation of vessels that exceed established horsepower limits or motor
restrictions may also be issued to the owners or operators of recreational
vessels and commercial passenger carrying vessels when it is determined that
greater horsepower is necessary for safe operations due to the size, shape, and
weight of such vessels.
(A)
Limitations on powercraft.
Except upon the waters of Chippewa lake, it shall be
unlawful to operate or permit the operation of any powercraft other than a
powercraft propelled by an electric motor.
(1)
On any waters of
the district except Chippewa lake:
No
powercraft propelled by an electric motor or combination of electric motors
shall exceed a total combined horsepower rating of ten horsepower except upon
the waters of Chippewa lake.
(a)
It is unlawful to operate or permit the operation of
any powercraft other than a powercraft propelled by an electric
motor.
(b)
The operation of a powercraft propelled by an electric
motor or combination of electric motors exceeding a total combined horsepower
rating of ten horsepower is forbidden.
(2) Upon the waters of Chippewa lake
:, no vessel shall be
propelled by a motor or combination of motors with a total combined horsepower
rating in excess of three hundred, ninety-nine horsepower.
(a)
It is unlawful to
operate or permit the operation of a powercraft propelled by a motor or
combination of motors with a total combined horsepower rating in excess of
three hundred, ninety-nine horsepower.
(b)
It is unlawful
for any person to operate or permit the operation of a watercraft in manner
that does not comply with an area of controlled operation as designated and
marked under the provisions of section 1547.08 of the Revised
Code.
(c)
No person is permitted to operate or permit the
operation of a powercraft at a speed greater than idle speed or at a speed that
creates a wake in the south bay, the western shore zone, or the eastern shore
zone.
(i)
"South bay" includes all waters south of a line extending
southeast from the boat launch (41° 3' 39.69" N 81° 54' 35.56" W) to the north
end of Beau Bay beach (41° 3' 35.49" N 81° 54' 13.54" W) on the eastern
shoreline.
(ii)
"Western shore zone" includes all waters of a uniform
width of one- hundred feet lying parallel with and contiguous to the shoreline
extending northward from the boat launch (41° 3' 39.69" N 81° 54' 35.56" W) to
the inlet (41° 4' 24.21" N 81° 54' 40.47" W) along the western side of the
lake.
(iii)
"Eastern shore zone" includes all waters of a uniform
width of three- hundred feet lying parallel with and contiguous to the
shoreline extending northward from the Beau Bay beach (41° 3' 35.49" N 81° 54'
13.54" W) to the inlet (41° 4' 24.21" N 81° 54' 40.47" W) along the eastern
side of the lake.
Exemptions to the Chippewa lake
powercraft limitations may be granted by the administrator of the Medina county
park district, or the administrator's designee, for sanctioned events or
activities. Any person or organization wishing to apply for an exemption may
submit an application detailing the dates, times, and any other information
deemed to be necessary not less than thirty days prior to the commencement of
such activities. Notice of an approved exemption will be provided to the
applicant. Any person operating a powercraft while participating in exempted
activities may be compelled to show proof of such exemption to law enforcement
or Medina county park district personnel upon request. Failure to abide by
provisions stated in the notice of exemption may result in the suspension or
revocation of the exemption.
The administrator of the Medina
county park district, or the administrator's designee, may grant written
permission for vessels exceeding the horsepower limits or motor restrictions
established in this rule to operate on waters of the district if it is
determined that the public safety will be adequately protected. Such a permit
may be issued to park district personnel and contracted service providers for
law enforcement, training, rescue, salvage, testing, and maintenance activities
when necessary for safe and efficient operations. Written permission allowing
for the operation of vessels that exceed established horsepower limits or motor
restrictions may also be issued to the owners or operators of recreational
vessels and commercial passenger carrying vessels when it is determined that
greater horsepower is necessary for safe operations due to the size, shape, and
weight of such vessels.
(B)
No
person shall
It is unlawful for any person
to operate, or permit to be operated, a powercraft at a speed in excess
of idle speed on any waters of the district from sunset to sunrise local
time.
(C)
No person shall
It
is unlawful for any person to voluntarily leave any vessel to swim in
district waters except in a designated boater swim area.
(D) The operation of submersibles, seaplanes,
hovercraft, mechanically propelled airboats, wing-in-ground craft, and ski-free
mechanisms is prohibited on all waters of the district.
(E) It
shall
be
is unlawful for any person to operate
or allow the operation of any mechanically powered apparatus, device,
contrivance, or combination of a mechanically powered recreational vessel and
any towable apparatus, device, or contrivance to become airborne over the
waters of the district.
(1)
No
It is unlawful
for any person, while operating a powercraft, shall
to tow or allow
the towing of any person using an apparatus, device, or other contrivance for
the purpose of becoming airborne over the waters of the district.
(2)
No person
shall
It is unlawful for any person to
utilize any device, or allow the utilization of any apparatus, device, or
contrivance designed or used for the purpose of becoming airborne over the
waters of the district while being towed by a powercraft.
(3)
No person
shall
It is unlawful for any person to
use any hydro jet device while operating upon waters of the district.
For the purposes of this rule, "hydro jet device" means a
modular apparatus that is tethered to a mechanically powered recreational
vessel or other type of power unit by a hose or conduit that delivers
pressurized water allowing the device to utilize water jets for the purpose of
allowing an operator or passenger to maneuver along the surface of the water,
ascend above the surface of the water, or dive below the surface of the water
by means of controlling the thrust and direction of the water jets.
Use of any sailboard or kite board, as defined in section
1547.532 of the Revised Code,
shall be
is
permitted on waters of the district, provided that any such vessel is operated
in a safe manner and does not interfere with the navigation of other
vessels.
(F)
No person shall
It
is unlawful for any person to possess or overtly and publicly consume or
display the presence of any beer or intoxicating liquor, as defined in section
4301.01 of the Revised Code,
while occupying any vessel on the waters of the district.
(G)
No person
shall
It is unlawful for any person to
use, access, moor, tie-up or otherwise secure a vessel to a privately held dock
or park district dock designated for seasonal contractual use without
permission of the owner or contracted lessee except in emergency situations or
in storm conditions which constitute a hazard to the safety of any persons or
property involved.
(H)
No person shall
It
is unlawful for any person to operate or permit the operation of a
powercraft at a speed greater than idle speed on waters of the district or at a
speed that creates at wake at any time when warning flags are posted.
