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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>357163</law_id><section_number>29.1-742</section_number><catch_line>Towing water skis, surfboards, etc</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="72" identifier="29.1">Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="12" identifier="7">Boating Laws</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="4" identifier="3">Boating Safety</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No person shall <span class="dictionary">operate</span> a <span class="dictionary">vessel</span> on any <span class="dictionary">waters of the Commonwealth</span> for towing a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device unless there is in the <span class="dictionary">vessel</span> a person, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person or persons being towed or unless the skier or skiers wear life preservers. <a id="paragraph-1329242" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-742/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No person shall <span class="dictionary">operate</span> a <span class="dictionary">vessel</span> on any water of the Commonwealth towing a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device, nor shall any person engage in water skiing or a similar activity at any time between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. The provisions of this subsection shall not constitute a defense to any provision of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Operating boat or manipulating water skis, etc., in reckless manner or while intoxicated, etc" href="/29.1-738/">29.1-738</a>. <a id="paragraph-1329243" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-742/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The provisions of subsections A and B of this section do not apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition. <a id="paragraph-1329244" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-742/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> No person shall <span class="dictionary">operate</span> or manipulate any <span class="dictionary">vessel</span>, towrope, or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause the water skis, surfboard, or similar device, or any person upon the device to collide with any <span class="dictionary">object</span> or person. <a id="paragraph-1329245" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-742/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1960, c. 500, &#xA7; 62-174.13; 1962, c. 626; 1968, c. 659, &#xA7; 62.1-179; 1982, c. 236; 1987, c. 488; 1988, c. 265; 1993, c. 275; 1997, c. 108.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
