Alabama’s Laws for Reckless or Careless Boat Operation

It is illegal in the state of Alabama to operate a watercraft in a reckless or careless manner.

Reckless Boat Operation

A person is guilty of reckless boat operation if they operate any boat, or manipulate any waterskis, aquaplane, or other marine transportation device, upon the waters of the state in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property at a speed, or in a manner to endanger, or likely to endanger, life, limb, or damage property of, or injure, any person.

A person in violation of this law will be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Examples of reckless operation include:

• Weaving through heavy boating traffic.
• Changing direction at the last moment to avoid a collision.
• Jumping the wake of another boat.
• Circling or ‘buzzing’ around a person or another boat on the water.
• Violating navigation regulations.
• Operating a boat within 100 feet of a diving flag.

Careless Operation

A person is guilty of careless operation if they operate in a manner that endangers the life, limb or property of any person, through negligence, carelessness or inattention on the waters of the state.

Any person in violation of this law will be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

Examples of careless operation include:

• Not maintaining a proper lookout for other boating traffic or for people in the water.
• Operating a boat that has not been equipped with the required safety equipment.

Additionally, in Alabama it is illegal to:

• Overload a boat.
• Exceed a boat’s maximum horsepower capacity.
• Sit in any position that is above the gunwale or cap of a boat while the boat is moving above idle speed.
• Ride on the bow of a boat that has not been equipped with handrails.
• Ride on a boat with your lower extremities hanging over the gunwale or cap of the boat.

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

Speed Limits

In Alabama, it is illegal to:

• Operate a boat in a manner and at a rate of speed which will create a hazardous wake or wash when approaching another boat or when entering or exiting a harbor or marina area.
• Operate a boat above ‘plane’ speed when people or equipment are positioned in such a way that the operators view and the safe operation of the boat would be impaired.
• Operate a boat in violation of any established speed zone (i.e. exceed speed limits that have been posted, such as ‘Slow-No Wake’ zones or other speed restriction areas). 

Restricted Areas

No person shall under any circumstances operate a boat on the waters of Alabama in excess of a speed zone established by regulation of the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations establishing speed zones, in areas on the waters of this state as deemed hazardous by the commissioner.

For more information on boating laws and regulations that apply within the state of Alabama, visit to Alabama Marine Police Division website.