Ordinance 3135-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Failure to stop for law enforcement officer. Any operator of a vessel who willfully fails to stop when requested or signaled to do so by a person reasonably identifiable as a law enforcement officer is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars. Section 17: Ordinance 1246-86 § 1 (part), 1986 (Chapter 12.02 EMC) is hereby amended by the addition of the following section: Duty of operator involved in collision, accident, or other casualty--Immunity from liability of persons rendering assistance—Penalties. A. The operator of a vessel involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty, to the extent the operator can do so without serious danger to the operator's own vessel or persons aboard, shall render all practical and necessary assistance to persons affected by the collision, accident, or casualty to save them from danger caused by the incident. Under no circumstances may the rendering of assistance or other compliance with this section be evidence of the liability of such operator for the collision, accident, or casualty. The operator shall also give all pertinent accident information, as specified by rule by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission ("the Commission"), to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction: PROVIDED, That this requirement shall not apply to operators of vessels when they are participating in an organized competitive event authorized or otherwise permitted by the appropriate agency having jurisdiction and authority to authorize such events. These duties are in addition to any duties otherwise imposed by law. B. All reports made to the Commission pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be for the confidential usage as described in RCW 79A.60.210(1), and use thereof as evidence shall be limited as described in RCW 79A.60.210(2). C. Any person who complies with subsection A of this section or who gratuitously and in good faith renders assistance at the scene of a vessel collision, accident, or other casualty, without objection of the person assisted, shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of the rendering of assistance or for any act or omission in providing or arranging salvage, towage,medical treatment, or other assistance, where the assisting person acts as any reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances. D. An operator of a vessel is guilty of a class C felony and is punishable pursuant to RCW 9A.20.021 if the operator: 1. Is involved in a collision that results in injury to a person; 2. Knew or reasonably should have known that a person was injured in the collision; and 3. Leaves the scene of the collision without rendering all practical and necessary assistance to the injured person as required pursuant to subsection A of this section, under circumstances in which the operator could have rendered assistance without serious danger to the operator's own vessel or persons aboard. 16