According to Oklahoma’s laws for negligent boat operation, no person shall operate, manipulate or give permission to any person to operate or manipulate any boat, parasails, water skis, surfboard, personal watercraft (PWC), or similar device, in a reckless, careless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life or property of any person.

Examples of Reckless/Negligent Boat Operation include:

• Operating a boat or allowing another person to operate a boat during hazardous weather/wind conditions which may endanger a person or their property.
• Operating in restricted areas.
• Disregarding posted speed limits, no wake zones or other boating restriction signs.
• Failing to stop for an emergency boat which is making a visible or audible signal.
• It is illegal to overload or give permission to overload a boat with passengers or gear so as to exceed the posted capacity plate, Coast Guard standards, or the recommended capacity of the boat manufacturer.

Careless Operation

In Oklahoma, careless or negligent boat operating is illegal. According to Oklahona’s laws for negligent boat operation, this includes includes mooring, beaching or parking a boat at the edge of or within a designated swimming area or causing danger to others due to the wake of your boat.

Oklahoma’s Laws for Boat Speed Limits and Operation in Restricted Areas

In Oklahoma, the following actions are illegal:

• Exceeding the posted speed limits/restrictions.
• Operating at greater than “No Wake” speed in marked “No Wake” zones.
• Operating at excessive speed in areas with congested boat traffic, or during conditions with restricted visibility.
• Operating within 50 feet of another boat and exceeding speeds of 10 miles per hour.
• Allowing passengers to ride on the gunwale, bow or transom when operating at greater than idle speed (unless the boat has adequately designed guards or railing of at least 24 inches).