Boats on Milwaukee River Above Dam.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 118-41
in effect118-41. Boats on Milwaukee River Above Dam.
1. BOATS PROPELLED BY HAND. All canoes, rowboats and other craft propelled by hand, while navigating the Milwaukee river from the dam to the northern limits of the city, shall follow a right-hand course, in the channels between the respective shores and lines midway between the shore and the center line of the river, except when making or leaving a landing
2. BOATS PROPELLED OTHERWISE. All boats propelled otherwise than by hand, while navigating the Milwaukee river from the dam to the northern limits of the city, shall, when going up or down said river, keep in the center of the river, in a course or channel extending in width from the center line of the river to the lines midway between the center line and the respective shores of the river, except when making or leaving a landing.
3. MOTOR VEHICLES NOT TO BE DRIVEN ON ICE. No person or persons shall use or operate any automobile or other motor vehicle upon the ice of the Milwaukee river from the dam to the northern limits of the city, nor upon the ice surfaces of any public skating rink in the city, except where the use and operation of such automobile or motor vehicle is necessary and actually and lawfully being used by those engaged in the business of harvesting ice.
4. SPEED AND LIGHT REGULATIONS ON BOATS. a. No boat, launch or other craft propelled by steam, gasoline, petroleum, electricity or other motive power shall pass up or down the Milwaukee river above the dam and within the limits of the city at a greater rate or speed than 6 miles per hour.
b. Each such boat, launch or power craft shall have and display at all times between the hours of sunset and sunrise red and green signal lights, fitted with inboard screens so as to prevent them from being seen across the bow, and of such character as to be visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least one mile, and so constructed as to show uniformly a permanent light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass, and so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on either side. The minimum size of glass globe shall not be less than 6 inches in diameter and 5 inches in the clear.
5. PENALTY. Any captain, owner, mate or other person in charge or control of any boat, launch, craft or motor vehicle described in this section who shall violate the provisions herein shall be punished for each offense by a fine of not less than $5 nor more than $25, or by imprisonment in the house of correction of Milwaukee county for a period not to exceed 20 days.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH118.pdf#page=20Fetched: 10/26/2026