City of Bonney Lake Boating Regulations
¤ Legal Age of Operation:
For any vessel powered over 10 horsepower, the operator must be at least 16 years of age. Operators under the age of 16 must have a parent or guardian present in the vessel.
¤ Required Vessel Safety Equipment:
Personal floatation devices (life jackets) are required in every vessel for each person on board. The life jacket must be of appropriate size, in serviceable condition and readily available. Additionally, vessels 16 feet or longer must also carry a throw-able type IV floatation device. Every Child 12 Years Of Age Or Younger Must Wear A Coast Guard Approved Personal Floatation Device While On Board Any Vessel, Except While In A Cabin. Vessels shall also have a fire extinguisher and a sound producing device (i.e. Horn or whistle)
¤ Vessel Registration:
You are required to carry the vessel registration certificate on board at all times. In Washington State, vessel registrations expire every year on June 30th. On the first of July, every boater should have the new validation sticker displayed on the vessel behind the hull numbers.
¤ Speed Limits And Hours Of Operation:
During the hours of darkness, between legal sunset and legal sunrise, no vessel may exceed 8 MPH. Speeds of 5 MPH or less are required when operating within 200 feet of shore, docks, bridges, or public swimming or boat launching facilities. The maximum speed limit on Lake Tapps is 60 MPH providing you are at least 200 ft. from shore and at least 100 ft. from any other vessel. Speeds of 5 Mph or less are required.
¤ Direction of Travel:
The general direction of travel is counter-clockwise around the lake. This means that when traveling over 8 MPH you must keep the shoreline on your starboard or right side.
¤ Restricted Areas and Buoys:
Certain areas of the lake have been designated as restricted or regulated areas. A visible system of buoys has been installed to identify these areas. Please observe and obey all restrictions and speed limits. It is illegal to move or remove any marker buoy placed by law enforcement. Additionally, it is unlawful to strike or damage a buoy in any way. Marker buoys are not for boat moorage or swimming activities.
¤ Reckless or Negligent Operation:
It will be considered reckless to operate a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug. Boating under the influence (BUI) will be aggressively prosecuted. Negligent operation may include disregard of careful and prudent operation and speeds.
¤ Water Skiing Safety:
An observer is required when towing any person on water skis, inner tubes, kneeboards, or other water toys. They shall continuously observe the person being towed and immediately display a flag whenever the person is in the water. The flag must be at least a 12 inch square mounted on a 24 inch pole or longer and be either bright red or brilliant orange in color. A life jacket is to be worn by the person being towed. You must take off and land your skier as near to perpendicular as possible but in no case less than a forty-five degree angle to any shoreline or dock.
¤ Personal Watercraft Safety:
A life jacket is required. No one may operate a PWC without attaching the lanyard to his or her person, clothing or PFD. It is illegal to disable or remove an engine cutoff switch. You must be at least 16 to operate a PWC. It cannot be operated after legal sunset or before legal sunrise. It is illegal to operate a PWC in a reckless manner, additionally you must carry a fire extinguisher and sound signaling device. A PWC must be registered just like an ordinary vessel.
¤ No Rafting of Boats:
The tying off of two of more vessels (commonly known as rafting) is now against boating regulations. The only exception to this on Lake Tapps is next to Dyke #4 which is located just to the North of the Pierce County Park.
¤ Vessel Inspections:
Marine services officers will make courtesy inspections of vessels both on the water and at the launch facility. Our primary concern is for boating safety and education. If you would like to schedule a vessel inspection at your residence please call the Police Department at (253) 863-2218. Upon successful completion you will be provided with a safety inspection sticker which will save you time getting in the water at the boat launch.
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Lake Tapps is a reservoir lying to the North of the City of Bonney Lake. The lake is being purchased from Puget Sound Energy by the 
Lake
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