Negligent or Careless Operation
Montana law states that it is unlawful to operate a vessel in a reckless, negligent, or dangerous manner. Specifically, these operating practices are illegal.
Negligent or Careless Operation of a vessel is the failure to exercise the care necessary to prevent the endangerment of another person or their property. Examples are:
- Weaving your vessel through congested waterway traffic
- Passing unreasonably or unnecessarily close to another vessel
- Buzzing or wetting down others
- Motoring through areas restricted for swimming
- Beaching your vessel within a designated swimming area
- Crossing or jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 yards of the vessel or within 100 yards of a water-skier or anything being towed by the vessel, except when directly entering or leaving a marina or other docking/loading area
- A reckless approach to, departure from, or passage by a dock, ramp, diving board, or float
- Riding on the bow, gunwales, or transom
Harassing Wildlife is using a vessel to kill, capture, take, pursue, concentrate, drive, or stir up any upland game birds, game, or fur-bearing animals. Motor-driven vehicles may not be used to drive, molest, flush, or harass any game animal or game bird while hunting.
