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CROSS REFERENCES

Nuisance investigation and abatement, CO Ch 203

Water Traffic Code penalty, CO 481.99

Watercraft pound creation authorized, CO 485.07

Litter in lakes and watercourses, CO 613.09

Oily refuse discharge prohibited, CO 613.10

483.01     Floating Objects

All vessels, watercraft, logs, pilings, building material, scows, houseboats or any other article of value found adrift in Cleveland waters, may be taken in charge by the Chief of Police or officer designated by him and shall be subject to reclamation by the owner thereof, on payment by him to the City of any expense incurred by the City, and in case of failure to reclaim, may be sold or disposed of according to law.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

483.02     Safety Devices on Commercial Piers

Every owner, agent or lessee having charge of any commercial pier shall furnish and keep for use on such pier at least one serviceable thirty-inch ring life buoy, and one serviceable thirty-inch ring life buoy for every 300 lineal feet of berthing space to each of which shall be attached at least 200 feet of suitable line, one end of which shall be fastened to the ring buoy. Each ring buoy and line attached thereto shall be kept in a suitable box or rack on the pier for the use of the public in case of accident, which box or rack shall be properly labeled and be at all times kept clear of obstructions. No person shall take away, molest, injure or destroy the same except for use in saving life and property.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

483.03     Drifting Debris

No owner, agent or lessee in charge of any pier shall allow the whole, or any part thereof, to fall into or remain adrift in the navigable City waters or drift away. Fender piles broken or loose, shall be removed by the owner, agent or lessee of any pier, and upon failure to do so, the same may be removed by the City and the expense thereto shall be paid by and recoverable from the owner, agent or lessee of such pier to the City.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

483.04     Oil Spillage; Removal and Recovery

No owner, master or other person in charge of a watercraft, and no engineer, or other person in charge of any engine room or machinery of any watercraft, and no owner, lessee, agent, employee or other person in charge of or employed in or about any pier, and no person along or upon the shore of any City waters, shall spill, throw, pump or otherwise cause oil of any description to be or float upon the waters of Cleveland. Any person causing oil to be upon the City waters as aforesaid shall remove the same and upon his failure to do so, the same may be removed by the City and the expense thereto shall be paid by and recoverable from the person causing such oil to be upon the water. The payment of such sum, or the maintenance of an action therefor, shall not be deemed to exempt such person from prosecution for causing such oil spillage.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

483.05     Nuisances; Abatement

Sunken vessels or watercraft, refuse of all kinds, structures or pieces of any structure, dock sweeping, dead fish or parts thereof, dead animals or parts thereof, timber logs, piles, boon sticks, lumber, boxes, empty containers and oil of any kind floating on the water, and all other substances or articles of a similar nature are hereby declared to be public nuisances. No person shall throw or place in or cause or permit to be thrown or placed any of the above named articles or substances in Cleveland waters, or upon the shores thereof or in such position that the same may or can be washed into such waters, either by tides, storms, floods or otherwise. Any person causing or permitting such nuisances to be placed as aforesaid shall remove the same and upon his failure to do so, the same may be removed by the City, and the expense thereof shall be paid by and recoverable from the person creating such nuisance. In all cases such nuisances may be abated in the manner provided by law. The abatement of any such public nuisances shall not excuse the person responsible therefor from prosecution hereunder.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

483.06     Prohibited Riding Positions

(a) No person operating a watercraft shall allow any person to ride or sit on either the gunwale or the decking over the bow of the watercraft while underway.

(b) No occupant of any vessel underway on the waters of Cleveland shall sit, stand or walk upon any portion of the vessel not specifically designed for such movement, except when immediately necessary for the safe and reasonable navigation or operation of the vessel. No operator of a vessel underway on the waters of Cleveland shall allow any occupant of the vessel to sit, stand or walk on any portion of the vessel underway not specifically designed for that use except when immediately necessary for the safe and reasonable navigation or operation of the vessel.
(RC 1547.22; Ord. No. 91-96. Passed 3-18-96, eff. 3-26-96)

483.07     Operating Unsafe Watercraft

(a) No person shall operate or cause or knowingly permit to be operated in City waters any watercraft which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person or his property.

(b) No person shall use or offer for use on the waters of Cleveland any inflatable watercraft made of canvas, rubber, synthetic rubber or vinyl plastic unless such inflatable watercraft is of multiple air cell or compartment construction and is capable of remaining afloat in the event one air cell or compartment is punctured or collapsed.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

483.08     Throwing Objects at Watercraft

No person shall throw at, or attempt to throw or hit any watercraft with any stone, stick or other missile with intent to injure anyone or damage any property.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

483.09     Boat Livery Records; Safety Equipment on Rental or Charter Watercraft

(a) The owner or proprietor of a boat livery shall cause to be kept a record of the name and address of the person or persons hiring any watercraft, the identification number of such watercraft, the departure date and time and the date and time of return of such watercraft. Such record shall be preserved for not less than six months after the departure date of such watercraft and shall be kept available for inspection by any duly authorized agency or authority. Prior to departure from the premises of such boat livery any such watercraft shall carry the equipment required by this Water Traffic Code.

(b) No person who lets watercraft for hire, or the agent or employee thereof, shall rent, lease, charter or otherwise permit the use of any watercraft, unless such person provides the watercraft with the equipment required by this Water Traffic Code, RC Chapter 1547 and rules issued pursuant thereto.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

483.10     Aquatic Events

Any yacht club, boat club or other organization shall notify the Police Division, in addition to the United States Coast Guard authorities, at least thirty days in advance of any proposed boat race, regatta, ski exhibition or aquatic event which will take place in City waters and which might in any way interfere with the normal use of such waters by other persons or watercraft.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

483.11     Watercraft Abandonment; Impounding, Redemption and Disposal

(a) No person shall abandon any watercraft at any time on the waters of the City.

(b) Any watercraft or outboard motor found unattended in a sunken, beached or drifting condition shall be deemed abandoned by the owner. In the interest of public safety such watercraft or outboard motor may be removed and impounded for safekeeping and disposal in accordance with the provisions of subsections (c) to (f) hereof.

(c) Such watercraft or outboard motor may be impounded by any member of the Police Division having jurisdiction in the area where such watercraft or outboard motor is found.

(d) The owner of such impounded watercraft or outboard motor, if known or can be found, shall be notified and the owner shall be permitted to redeem such watercraft or outboard motor by payment of a storage fee not to exceed three dollars ($3.00) per day plus the actual towing cost of the watercraft, not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00).

(e) When the owner of such watercraft or outboard motor cannot be found, the impounded watercraft or outboard motor shall be held at a place of safe keeping for a period of not less than ninety days nor more than six months.

(f) Any watercraft or outboard motor unclaimed by the owner within such ninety day period shall be disposed of by destroying the same or by offering such watercraft or outboard motor for sale at public auction.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

483.12     Going on Ice Prohibited; Exception

No person shall go upon the ice of the navigable waterways of the City, except where such ice has been declared safe by the Chief of Police or the officer in charge of the Ports and Harbors Unit.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)