ARTICLE II

15-006.00 Watercraft Speed Limits

Editorial Note: New Section 15-006.00 replaced Sections 15-006.00 through 15-66.031 under authority of Ord. No. 98-2881, adopted 6/18/98

A. Unlawful operation: It shall be unlawful to operate any vessel or watercraft on any waterway in St. Tammany Parish such that its speed exceeds a speed of “dead slow” within the following described “Dead Slow, No Wake” zones:

    1.

Tchefuncte River Area

        a. A portion of the Tchefuncte River from a point 1.5 miles upstream from the river's mouth at Lake Pontchartrain to a point 2.75 miles north of the river's mouth at Lake Pontchartrain. This 1.25 mile stretch of river encompasses an area from roughly 700 yards south of the Highway 22 bridge south of the Marina Del Ray entrance to a point in the curve just upstream from the commercially developed portion of Highway 22 that backs up to the river.
    
        b. A portion of the Tchefuncte River beginning at a line across the river at a point 200 feet north of an inlet off the river commonly known as “High Bridge Canal”, and extending to a line across the river at a point 100 feet south of the High Bridge Canal. (Ord. 01-0396, adopted 11/15/2001)
        
        c. Within the “Tchefuncte Country Club Marina” and associated canals and slips, including the mouth of the marina at the Tchefuncte River, in their entireties.

                g. Lazy River Estates Area - Those waterways commonly known as “Frances Bayou”, “Dorothy Bayou”, “Blanche Bayou”, and “Sally Bayou” in their entireties and “Bayou Monga” from the power line crossing upstream to Interstate 12.

                h. A portion of the Tchefuncte River beginning at a line across the river at a point 300 feet north of the entrance to Marina Beau Chene, and extending to a line across the river at a point 300 feet south of the entrance to Marina Beau Chene. All costs incurred by St. Tammany Parish with the installation and maintenance of necessary and appropriate signage marking this “Dead Slow, No Wake” zone shall be reimbursed to the Parish by Marina Beau Chene. (Ord. No. 02-0433, adopted 02/07/2002)
    
    2.

Little Tchefuncte River Area

        a. The Little Tchefuncte River from where it intersects the Bogue Falaya River just north of Interstate 12 upstream along the entire boundary of Ward 1 (Ord. 01-0368, adopted 09/06/2001)

        b. Flowers Bayou - in its entirety

        c. Horseshoe Bayou - in its entirety

    3.

Bayou Castine

            4.

Cane Bayou

Bayou Lacombe Area

        a. Lacombe Harbor Area - Those waterways known commonly as the “Lacombe Harbor Subdivision canals”, “Crutch Bay”, “Perch Bay”, “Finger Bay”, “Pine Bay”, “Cypress Bay”, and “Cypress Bayou” in their entireties.

        b. Bayou Lacombe from Tammany Trace downstream to the “Patterson Canal”.

        c. Bayou Lacombe from 300 feet upstream from “Powell Bayou” to a point in the curve immediately downstream from the “seaplane base”.

Bayou Liberty

Bayou Bonfouca

Bayou LaSang

    9.

Northshore Subdivision

Eden Isles and Oak Harbor Subdivisions

Pirates Harbor Canal

Salt Bayou

    13.

Rigolets Estates/Treasure Isle Area

Geoghegan Canal

Pearl River Basin Area

    16.

Abita River

    1. Special Speed Limits
    
        a. Unless otherwise officially posted, it shall be unlawful to operate any watercraft in excess of forty-five (45) miles per hour anywhere on the Tchefuncte River between the Highway 22 bridge at Madisonville upstream to the Interstate 12 bridge near Covington.

        b. Unless otherwise officially posted, it shall be unlawful to operate any watercraft in excess of forty-five miles per hour (45 MPH) anywhere on the Pearl River Navigation Canal between Hickory Field and Lock No. 2. This speed limit provides adequate velocity for slalom or barefoot skiing.

    2. General “Dead Slow, No Wake” Zones
    
        a. It shall be unlawful to operate any vessel or watercraft on any waterway in St. Tammany Parish such that its speed exceeds a speed of “Dead Slow” within 100 yards (300 feet) on either side of any public boat launch or commercial fuel dock.

C. Definitions:

    1. “Dead Slow” or “Dead Slow, No Wake” - shall be the minimum possible speed that any vessel or watercraft can travel and still maintain safe steerage.

    2. Watercraft - any vessel or craft powered by any means designed for transport across the surface of water. (Including boats, ships, personal watercraft, barges, seaplanes, hovercrafts...etc).

D. Enforcement: Enforcement of this section of the Code of Ordinances is authorized, directed and empowered to the following entities: agents of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Department, Louisiana State Police, agents of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and any other duly authorized peace officer of the State of Louisiana.

F. Exemptions: Exempt herefrom shall be any enforcement watercraft or any watercraft bound on a bona fide life-saving mission.

G. Violation; Penalties: Violation hereof by any operator of any watercraft, other than those exempt, shall be punishable as follows:

    1st Offense _ $ 50.00 and a certificate showing the successful completion of a boating safety course as approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).

    2nd Offense _ $100.00 and a certificate showing the successful completion of a boating safety course as approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).

    3rd Offense and subsequent offenses _ $300.00 and/or imprisonment in the Parish Jail for up to (30) days

(Ord. No. 98-2881, adopted 6/18/98; Sec. 15-006.00 replaced Sec. 15-006.00 through 15-006.31; Sec. 15-006.00 item A - 7 amended to add Coin DuLestin in item 7-a by Ord. No. 99-3061, adopted 4/15/99; Sec. G - 1 and 2 amended by Ord. No. 99-3062, adopted 4/15/99; amended by Ord. No. 99-3203, adopted 11/18/99)