1. Permit required. A person may not hold a regatta, race, boat exhibition or water-ski exhibition without a permit from the commissioner issued under subsection 2. A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged. [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §369 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] B. A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime. [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §369 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §369 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] 2. Issuance. The commissioner may issue a permit to a person permitting the person to hold a regatta, race, boat exhibition or water-ski exhibition on any of the internal waters of this State. [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).] 3. Application. The person in charge of a regatta, race, boat exhibition or water-ski exhibition shall request the permit required under subsection 1 from the commissioner at least 15 days prior to the event. The request must be in writing and must set forth the date, time and location of the event. The person in charge of a proposed motorboat race shall send a letter of intent 60 days prior to the event to municipal officers of the municipality or municipalities in which the race will occur. A copy of the letter of intent must be forwarded to the commissioner with the request for a permit to hold any motorboat race. [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).] 4. Requirements. The following requirements apply to permits issued under this section. A. The person obtaining the permit under subsection 2 shall provide reasonable protection, as prescribed by the commissioner, from water traffic interference and hazards and shall take reasonable precautions to safeguard persons and property. [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §369 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] B. During any event authorized pursuant to subsection 1, the officials conducting it shall conspicuously display one or more orange warning flags of a size not less than 4 feet by 4 feet while the event is in progress. The officials shall remove the warning flag or flags for reasonable periods of time during the event to allow nonparticipating watercraft to pass through the area. [PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).] [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §369 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] 4-A. Penalty. The following penalties apply to violations of subsection 4. A. A person who violates subsection 4 commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged. [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §370 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] B. A person who violates subsection 4 after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime. [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §370 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §370 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] 5. Unlawfully crossing event area. Except in an emergency, an operator of a watercraft may not cross the area of a regatta, race, boat exhibition authorized under subsection 1 or water-ski exhibition when the warning flag required under subsection 4, paragraph B is displayed. A. A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged. [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §371 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] B. A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime. [PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §371 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).] [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §371 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]
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