What are No Wake / Idle Zones and why should I slow down?
“Idle Speed, No Wake” Zones are designated areas where vessels must be operated at a speed no greater than that which is necessary to maintain steerage and headway. When you are in a “Idle Speed, No Wake” zone your vessel should not produce any wake. (So if you’re kicking up a wake then you’re speeding.
In “Slow Speed, Minimum Wake” Zones vessels must be fully off plane and completely settled in the water. Any wake created by a vessel in one of these zones must be minimal (very small). If your vessel is traveling with the bow even slightly elevated while in one of these zones, it is not proceeding at “Slow Speed” as required by law.
Although many Idle and Slow zones are matters of State law most are municipal. Although they are usually clearly marked, with a simple Google search you can download maps for pretty much any geographical area from the internet,
If you receive a ticket for excessive wake or speed then be very careful before you pay it. It may purport to be and otherwise look like a civil infraction, but in some municipalities, like Miami-Dade County, the Clerk automatically generates a misdemeanor case number so if you pay the citation you may wind up with a criminal conviction on your record.
As with any ticket (on land or water) your interests will almost always be best served by hiring a lawyer to advise and defend you.
At Michael A. Haber, PA “it’s all about reasonable doubt”!
Please note that no attorney-client relationship with either Michael A. Haber, PA or Michael A. Haber, Esq. exists as a result of your watching this Webisode series. Further any and all information which is both contained in and may be construed from this Webisode series is generic in nature and should only be considered as informational and not as actual legal advise in any specific case. Should you wish to seek actual legal advise then please feel free to contact Michael A. Haber, Esq. as follows:
Office Phone: 305-381-8686
Toll Free Phone: 1-888-SHARK-8-1
Cellular Phone / Text: 305-798-2220
https://criminallaw.miami
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Twitter: @Sharky910
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