Federal Laws

The terms “law”, “statute”, and “regulation" are often interchanged, and can be confusing. A statute is a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government. In the case of recreational boating, statutes are contained in Title 46 of the U.S. Code.

Title 46 U.S. Code
    Subtitle 2

            Chapter 21: Definitions, Civil Penalties

            Chapter 23: Negligent Operation, Reporting

            Chapter 41: Safety Equipment

            Chapter 43: Recreational Vessels

The terms “rule” and “regulation” are often used interchangeably. Agencies publish rules to make specific provisions for implementing their legal responsibilities set forth in U.S. Code. These rules are published in the Federal Register following a public discussion and a publication of a final rule. Rules for recreational boats are published in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations.