Improper Speed or Distance

Tennessee law designates the following dangerous operating practices as illegal.

Improper Speed or Distance is not maintaining a proper speed and distance while operating a vessel. Examples are:

• Operating at an excessive rate of speed in crowded or dangerous areas or during periods of restricted visibility
• Operating a vessel at greater than “slow, no wake speed” in any areas marked as “No Wake”
• Operating within 300 feet of a commercial vessel dock at greater than “idle speed”
• Jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that vessel

Effective July 1, 2018, Tennessee Law (TCA§69-9-228) requires all watercraft to slow to “slow, no wake speed” speed when passing within 100 feet of a law enforcement vessel displaying a flashing blue light.