NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1965 SESSION

CHAPTER 1205

HOUSE BILL 1187

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF IREDELL, CATAWBA, LINCOLN AND MECKLENBURG COUNTIES TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF VESSELS AND FOR RECREATIONAL USES OF THE WATERS OF LAKE NORMAN.

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

Section 1. The Boards of County Commissioners of Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln and Mecklenburg Counties are hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the safe operation of vessels and for recreational uses which will permit, protect, promote and aid in the safe, full and multiple use of the waters of Lake Norman. The board of county commissioners of the aforesaid counties are empowered and authorized to:

1. Establish vessel speed limits;

2. Regulate the size and horsepower of vessel motors;

3. Prohibit motorboating;

4. Establish restrictions on the use of motorboats by day and hour;

5. Establish speed zones;

6. Authorize and direct the placement of channel markers and navigational aids;

7. Authorize and direct the marking of public swimming beaches or areas;

8. Establish and designate areas restricted solely to swimming, boating, fishing or related purposes;

9. Adopt any other regulation relating to the operation of vessels and to recreational uses of waters which will best protect the public safety;

10. Adopt the Uniform System of Waterway Marking, as approved by the Advisory Panel of State Officials to the Merchant Marine Council, United States Coast Guard, in October, 1961, and as may be amended, for use on the waters of Lake Norman and to make and enforce regulations necessary to implement the Uniform Marking System.

The boards of county commissioners are authorized to call upon the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for information, advice and assistance in formulating the rules and regulations herein authorized.

Sec. 2. The Boards of County Commissioners of Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln and Mecklenburg Counties are authorized to promulgate rules and regulations in joint meetings of the respective boards or through their duly designated representatives. Provided, however, the rules and regulations promulgated shall not be effective until approved and adopted by each of the boards of county commissioners and the rules and regulations have been filed in the office of the clerk of court of each county, and notice of such rules and regulations has been given by publication once each week for two consecutive weeks in some newspaper in each county.

Sec. 3. Any person violating the rules and regulations so filed shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable as provided in G. S. 75A-18.

Sec. 4. All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 5. This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 17th day of June, 1965.