nav light laws from MWP officer

[BIG K]

here it is straight from the trooper who has been working taneycomo this summer  please read to the bottom where he puts it in a nutshell for us Mr. Himes,
The following is the only lighting requirements Missouri Law enforcement may enforce. Lights can be an element of unsafe driving but as a standalone violation, the law is as follows:

306.100. 1. For the purpose of this section, vessels shall be divided into four classes as follows:
(1) Class A, less than sixteen feet in length;
(2) Class 1, at least sixteen and less than twenty-six feet in length;
(3) Class 2, at least twenty-six and less than forty feet in length;
(4) Class 3, forty feet and over.
2. All vessels shall display from sunset to sunrise the following lights when under way, and during such
time no other lights, continuous spotlights or docking lights, or other nonprescribed lights shall be exhibited:
(1) Vessels of classes A and 1:
(a) A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon;
(b) A combined light in the forepart of the vessel and lower than the white light aft, showing green to
starboard and red to port, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points (22 1/2 degrees) abaft the
beam on their respective sides;
(2) Vessels of classes 2 and 3:
(a) A bright white light in the forepart of the vessel as near the stem as practicable, so constructed as to
show the unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty points (225 degrees) of the compass, so fixed as
to throw the light ten points (112 1/2 degrees) on each side of the vessel; namely, from right ahead to two
points (22 1/2 degrees) abaft the beam on either side;
(b) A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon and higher than the white light forward;
(c) On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the
horizon of ten points (112 1/2 degrees) of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two
points (22 1/2 degrees) abaft the beam on the starboard side; on the port side a red light so constructed as to
show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points (112 1/2 degrees) of the compass, so fixed as
to throw the light from right ahead to two points (22 1/2 degrees) abaft the beam on the portside. The side lights
shall be fitted with inboard screens so set as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow;
(3) Vessels of classes A and 1 when propelled by sail alone shall exhibit the combined light prescribed by
this section and a twelve point (135 degree) white light aft. Vessels of classes 2 and 3, when so propelled, shall
exhibit the colored side lights, suitably screened, prescribed by this section and a twelve point (135 degree)
white light aft;
(4) All vessels between the hours of sunset and sunrise that are not under way, moored at permanent
dockage or attached to an immovable object on shore so that they do not extend more than fifty feet from the
shore shall display one three-hundred-sixty-degree white light visible three hundred sixty degrees around the
horizon;
(5) Every white light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at
least two miles. Every colored light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a
distance of at least one mile. The word "visible" in this subsection, when applied to lights, shall mean visible on
a dark night with clear atmosphere;
(6) When propelled by sail and machinery every vessel shall carry the lights required by this section for a
motorboat propelled by machinery only.
3. Any watercraft not defined as a vessel shall, from sunset to sunrise, carry, ready at hand, a lantern or
flashlight showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to avert collision.
4. Any vessel may carry and exhibit the lights required by the federal regulations for preventing collisions
at sea, in lieu of the lights required by subsection 2 of this section.
5. All other watercraft over sixty-five feet in length and those propelled solely by wind effect on the sail
shall display lights prescribed by federal regulations.
6. Any watercraft used by a person engaged in the act of sport fishing is not required to display any lights
required by this section if no other vessel is within the immediate vicinity of the first vessel, the vessel is using
an electric trolling motor and the vessel is within fifty feet of the shore.

So, what does that mean? It means lights are required from legal sunset to legal sunrise unless you are fishing within 50 feet of the shore without you big motor, then you may turn them off until a boat approaches at which time you need to turn them on.

So, basically if your drive slow, there is no State law requiring lights in fog. I stress state law, because the Coast Guard does have regulations about it but I'd rather they speak to those regulations. You can also see in the Missouri boater safety course, and handbook, it states that lights are required in reduced visibility scenarios, however; there is no state law to back that up. So it is a guideline, not a law.

Common sense goes a long way in the case of when to use lights in fog to achieve a safe boating environment. When in doubt, turn them on. Be careful around the small vessels, I've been advising them to carry a white light as required at night, but it isn't a state law in fog, just a guideline.

Clear as mud.....or fog in this case.
Safe boating,
Tpr. Wilkins

-----Original Message-----

trooper wilkins always wanting to be on the right side of the law could you take a minute and explain to me so that i may share with my fellow taneycomo boaters what is the law on lights in foggy conditions alot of us simply do not know is thin fog ok or is it only heavy fog we simply do not know what exactly the law states . thank you Kelly Himes

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 i would like to thank him for taking time to reply to my email question

[moguy1973]

So according to this:

2. All vessels shall display from sunset to sunrise the following lights when under way, and during such
time no other lights, continuous spotlights or docking lights, or other nonprescribed lights shall be exhibited

all gigging boats that run at night with the bright lights are illegal?

[MOPanfisher]

MOGUY, that was exactly the thought that went through my mind.  I have also seen what amount to headlights on some boats of guys who fish a lot of nights.

[jdmidwest]

I never seem to find a bright enough spotlight when running to the duck blind in the morning.  Fog always seems to eat the beam.

[fishinwrench]

8 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

So according to this:

2. All vessels shall display from sunset to sunrise the following lights when under way, and during such
time no other lights, continuous spotlights or docking lights, or other nonprescribed lights shall be exhibited

all gigging boats that run at night with the bright lights are illegal?

In more ways than one.   I've never seen a gigging boat with a red/green bow light OR the standard stern light turned on.