Mississippi boating and alcohol laws

It is illegal to operate any motorized boat, powered by an engine of more than 25 horsepower, or a personal watercraft (PWC) while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or another illegal chemical.

In Mississippi, a person is considered to be under the influence if:

• They have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher.
• They are under the influence of alcohol.
• They are under the influence of any substance that impairs their ability to operate a boat.

In Mississippi, a person convicted of operating a boat while under the influence will be subject to the following penalties:

Penalties for drinking and boating

First offense: May receive a fine up to $1,000 and 2 days imprisonment.

Second offense: May receive a fine, imprisonment and the loss of their boat operating privileges for 1 year.

More severe penalties exist for subsequent convictions.

Any person who causes the death or serious injury of another person while operating a boat while under the influence will be guilty of a felony upon conviction.

MISSISSIPPI BOAT REGISTRATION

In order to legally operate a motorized boat or sailboat in the state of Mississippi, you must obtain a Certificate of Number (registration card) and validation decals. The Certificate of Number must be on board and be available for inspection by an enforcement officer during boat operation.

Which boats require registration?

• All motorized boats.
• All sailboats (with or without a motor). 

The Certificate of Number and validation decals may be obtained by submitting an application and fee to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks (MDWFP). Boat registrations are valid for 3 years and expire on the last day of the month in which the original or transferred certificate was received.

Boats in Mississippi are required to correctly display their registration number and validation stickers. 

Registration numbers and stickers must be displayed as follows:

• The numbers must be applied as a decal, painted or permanently affixed to each side of the boat’s bow (boat owners are not permitted to display any other numbers in this area).
• The numbers must be in bold block letters that are at least 3 inches high and in a color that contrasts with the color of the boat.
• The numbers must be separated from the letters by a hyphen or by an equivalent space
• The numbers must be read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
• Validation decals must be affixed on both sides of the boat, preceding the prefix letters of the registration number and 6 inches from the registration number.

HOURS OF OPERATION

PWCs may only be legally operated during daylight hours

AGE REQUIREMENTS

Operators who are under the age of 12 are not permitted to operate a PWC unless they have successfully completed a boating safety course and are accompanied by an adult who is 21 years of age or older.

PWC Regulations

• While towing, PWCs must always have an additional person on board, who is more than 10 years of age, as a designated spotter or ‘observer’ for the person being towed
• PWCs may not be operated within 100 feet of a skier or another vessel
• All PWC operators must follow boater education requirements to legally operate

Non-native Aquatic Species

American waterways have been under threat from foreign aquatic plants, fish and invertebrates. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) are transferred from boats and boating equipment that originate from external waterways. Once introduced to a new waterway, the ANS will detach from the contaminated boat and spread like wildfire. ANS include: Milfoil, Zebra Mussels and Quagga Mussels.

Why are ANS such a serious threat?

• They have no natural predators in U.S. waters.
• Some ANS can actually survive out of water, making transfer easy.
• They reproduce quickly.
• They have harmful effects on the native wildlife, habitats and ecosystems.

For more information on Aquatic Nuisance Species, visit: www.protectyourwaters.net/impacts.php.

Be sure to report new infestations of non-native aquatic species to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (209) 946-6400 or report to New York State online at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dep/environment/invasive-species-report-form.page

Help prevent the spread of non-native species

• Inspect all surfaces of your boat and remove aquatic plants or animals before leaving any body of water.
• Ensure you flush raw-water cooling systems and clean sea-strainers before moving your boat from one body of water to another.
• Empty and dry any buckets before leaving a body of water.
• Remove any plant fragments from bait wells, fishing gear, trailers, dive gear or props.
• Dispose of plant fragments and bait into a garbage receptacle on land. 
• Avoid chopping vegetation with your boat’s propeller.
• Clean and dry all live-wells prior to transporting your boat.
• Drain all water from your motor and bilge and dry all areas.
• Thoroughly wash your boat, including the hull, before putting it into a new body of water.
• Refer to specific drying times.