General Provisions

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 38, art. VI, div. 4, pt. A

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-406 Compliance with State law.

§ 38-406. - Compliance with State law. All boating on the Atoka Reservoir-Reservation shall comply with the Oklahoma Boating Safety Regulation Act. (Code 1970, § 23-47; Code 1980, § 38-406)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-407 Life preservers.

§ 38-407. - Life preservers. (a) All boats shall be equipped with one U.S. Coast Guard approved life preserver for each person in such boat. Each life preserver shall be in good condition and approved by the Chief Ranger, or his designated assistant. Life preservers shall be easily accessible, not locked or stored in a compartment or tied down in the boat. (b) All persons shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket or vest at all times upon the waters of the Atoka Reservoir-Reservation while in, on, or using a boat whose dimensions are smaller than: (1) eleven feet in length measured from bow to stern. (2) forty-eight inches wide measured between the sides of the boat at the top of the sides at its widest point. (3) fifteen inches in depth measured from the top of the sides at the widest point to the bottom of the boat. (c) Children who have not attained the age of 12 years shall wear an approved, vest-type life preserver at all times they are in any boat which is upon the waters of the reservation. (Code 1970, §§ 23-43, 23-47(c), (d); Code 1980, § 38-407)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-408 Boat markings.

§ 38-408. - Boat markings. A boat, whether privately owned or otherwise, shall be marked as provided by 63 O.S. § 4030. (Code 1970, §§ 23-43, 23-47(b), (c); Code 1980, § 38-408)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-409 Lights.

§ 38-409. - Lights. All motorboats and sailboats operating at night shall be equipped with combination red and green lights placed in the fore part of the boat, in such position as to be clearly visible at all times to the occupants of other boats in the vicinity. All motorboats operating at night shall also be equipped with a white light in the stern, placed in such a position as to be clearly visible to occupants of other boats in the vicinity. All motorboats propelled by a motor in excess of five horsepower shall be equipped with headlights illuminating the forward path of such boats. All other boats operating at night shall display a white light while such boat is in use on the lake. Lights shall be kept burning at night at all times while the boat is in use, whether running or anchored in the lake. (Code 1970, § 23-47(e); Code 1980, § 38-409)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-410 Fire extinguishers.

§ 38-410. - Fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers approved by the Chief Ranger shall be required on all inboard motorboats. (Code 1970, § 23-47(f); Code 1980, § 38-410)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-411 Horns.

§ 38-411. - Horns. Horns approved pursuant to the Oklahoma Boating Safety Regulation Act and by the Chief Ranger shall be required on all boats except rowboats and canoes. (Code 1970, § 23-47(g); Code 1980, § 38-411)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-412 Air chamber to ensure buoyance.

§ 38-412. - Air chamber to ensure buoyance. All metal or fiberglass boats shall be equipped with an air chamber or chambers or other buoyant materials approved by the Chief Ranger of sufficient displacement to ensure buoyance of the craft, accessories and passengers in the event of capsizing. (Code 1970, § 23-47(h); Code 1980, § 38-412)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-413 Mufflers.

§ 38-413. - Mufflers. No person shall operate any motorboat of inboard or outboard design upon the waters of the Atoka Reservoir-Reservation unless such boat is equipped with a muffler which is operating and in good working condition. The terms of this section shall not apply to any boat duly entered and being operated in an official boat race, or to any boat whose motor is being tested. Such testing shall be permitted only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., on one day each week except Sunday for a period not to exceed two hours, such day and period to be designated by the Chief Ranger, and all such tests shall be confined to the central portion of the lake. (Code 1970, § 23-47(n); Code 1980, § 38-413)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-414 Determination of passenger capacity.

§ 38-414. - Determination of passenger capacity. Passenger capacity shall be determined on the basis of the size of the normal passenger carrying area, allowing one passenger for each full three lineal feet of the length of the normal passenger carrying area for boats up to 60 inches in width. The passenger capacity of boats whose width is in the excess of 60 inches, or any other unusual conditions, shall be determined on the basis of safety by the sole judgment of the Chief Ranger or his designated assistant. (Code 1970, § 23-116(e); Code 1980, § 38-414)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-415 Direction of travel.

§ 38-415. - Direction of travel. All boats shall move generally in a counterclockwise direction. (Code 1970, § 23-47(a); Code 1980, § 38-415)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-416 Minimum age of operators.

§ 38-416. - Minimum age of operators. All persons under the age of 16 years are prohibited from operating a motorboat unless accompanied by an adult except persons under the age of 16 years may operate all other boats while wearing an approved life preserver, if supervised by an adult in an operative motorboat. Said supervision shall be in a manner consistent with rules and regulations of safety established by the association and by ordinance. (Code 1970, § 23-47(i); Code 1980, § 38-416)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-417 Boating prohibited in certain areas.

§ 38-417. - Boating prohibited in certain areas. (a) Intake tower area. No boating shall be permitted within 500 feet of the intake tower or walkway to the tower, or concrete spillway section of the dam upon Lake Atoka Reservation. (b) Water skiing, culture pond spawning areas. No boating, other than that incidental to water skiing activities, shall be permitted in the properly marked and buoyed water skiing areas, or upon any culture pond or spawning area now established, or which hereafter may be established, on the Lake Atoka Reservation. (Code 1970, § 23-12; Code 1980, § 38-416.1)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-418 Operation in rough waters.

§ 38-418. - Operation in rough waters. All persons are prohibited from operating any boat upon water at any time when in the judgment of the Chief Ranger the waters are sufficiently rough to be dangerous. (Code 1970, § 23-47(j); Code 1980, § 38-417)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-419 Operation in spawning areas.

§ 38-419. - Operation in spawning areas. No person shall operate a boat over or upon any area which has been designated and marked as a spawning or fish propagating area. (Code 1970, § 23-47(k); Code 1980, § 38-418)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-420 Right-of-way rules.

§ 38-420. - Right-of-way rules. Rowboats and canoes shall have the right-of-way at all times over sailboats or motor-propelled boats. Sailboats shall have the right-of-way at all times over motor-propelled boats. (Code 1970, § 23-47(l); Code 1980, § 38-419)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-421 Distance of motorboats from other boats and bank.

§ 38-421. - Distance of motorboats from other boats and bank. Motorboats shall, at all times, keep a safe distance from other boats. Motorboats, while cruising, shall not come nearer than 100 feet to any bank or 200 feet to any anchored boat. Motorboats shall be allowed in any neck or bay only for the purpose of fishing and shall move only at idling speed. (Code 1970, § 23-47(m); Code 1980, § 38-420)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-422 Use of boats for parties or picnics.

§ 38-422. - Use of boats for parties or picnics. No person shall use any boat upon the waters of Lake Atoka for parties or picnics and the use of all such boats shall be limited to boat riding and fishing. (Code 1970, § 23-47(o); Code 1980, § 38-421)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-423 Use and possession of alcoholic beverages and drunkenness.

§ 38-423. - Use and possession of alcoholic beverages and drunkenness. No person shall use, consume or possess any alcoholic beverage while operating a boat or riding in a boat, or operate or ride in a boat while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants. (Code 1970, § 23-47(p); Code 1980, § 38-422; Ord. No. 26268, § 3, 10-8-19)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-424 Pontoon vessels.

§ 38-424. - Pontoon vessels. (a) Pontoon vessels shall be considered as boats and all provisions of existing ordinances applicable to boats shall apply to pontoon vessels except that no pontoon vessel shall receive a permit to be admitted to the waters of the Atoka Reservoir-Reservation unless it meets the following minimum requirements: (1) such vessel shall be at least 14 feet in length and seven feet in width; (2) the decking shall not extend beyond the pontoons on the ends, nor more than six inches beyond the sides of the pontoon; and (3) the flotation area of the pontoon shall be not less than 254 cubic inches per lineal inch of pontoon. (b) No pontoon vessel shall be permitted on the waters of the reservation carrying more than one passenger for each foot of width plus one additional person per each three feet the vessel exceeds the 14-foot minimum length. (c) No pontoon vessel shall be used for parties or picnics, nor shall food or alcoholic beverages be consumed in said vessels while on the waters of Lake Atoka. (Code 1970, § 23-116(a)—(c); Code 1980, § 38-423)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-425 Racing shells, rowing sculls and racing kayaks.

§ 38-425. - Racing shells, rowing sculls and racing kayaks. Boats propelled by oars or paddles extremely narrow in width and of great length compared to width, which are primarily used for racing purposes and are commonly known as racing shells, rowing sculls and racing kayaks, shall be allowed upon the waters of the Atoka Reservoir-Reservation. The minimum width, length and depth requirements appearing in this division shall not apply to racing shells, rowing sculls and racing kayaks. The occupants or oarsmen of such boats shall not be required to carry or wear life preservers as prescribed in this division, in conformity with the rules and regulations of Oklahoma Department of Public Safety promulgated under the Oklahoma Boating Safety Regulation Act. (Code 1970, § 23-44.1; Code 1980, § 38-424)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-426 Canoes.

§ 38-426. - Canoes. (a) A canoe is defined as a boat that is long relative to its width, that has curved sides, and is tapered to two pointed ends, or is tapered to one pointed end and blunt on the other end, and that is generally of traditional shape. (b) Canoes shall be considered as boats and all provisions of the ordinances applicable to boats shall apply to canoes except that no canoe shall receive a permit, be admitted to or operate upon the waters of the Atoka Reservoir-Reservation unless it meets the following requirements: (1) it shall have a minimum length of 15 feet, a minimum width of 35 inches, and a minimum depth of 12 inches. The length of a canoe shall be determined by measuring distance from bow to stern. The width of a canoe shall be determined by measuring the distance between the sides of the canoe at its widest point. The depth of a canoe shall be determined by measuring the distance from the top of the sides at the widest point to the bottom of the canoe. (2) no canoe shall be operated upon the waters of the Atoka Reservoir-Reservation carrying passengers in the excess of the following standards relative to canoe length: a. under 17 feet, two persons; b. seventeen feet to and including 19 feet, three persons; c. over 19 feet to and including 21 feet, three persons; d. the passenger capacity of any canoes over 21 feet shall be determined on the basis of safety and at the discretion of the Chief Ranger or his designated assistant. (3) all occupants of a canoe shall wear a United States Coast Guard approved life jacket or vest at all times while afloat. (4) no motorized canoe shall be permitted upon the waters of the reservation. (Code 1970, § 23-44.2; Code 1980, § 38-425)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-427 Inflatable watercraft.

§ 38-427. - Inflatable watercraft. Inflatable watercraft constructed of rubber or synthetic materials, excepting a fisherman's float as authorized by Section 38-372, may be permitted on the Atoka Reservoir-Reservation subject to the following restrictions: (1) said craft may only operate within 100 feet of the shoreline or within necks and coves of the lake; (2) all occupants of inflatable watercraft shall wear Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices; (3) in addition to the above restrictions, inflatable watercraft shall be subject to all inspection, permit and licensing requirements and all ordinances and safety requirements regulating boats as provided in this article. (Code 1970, § 23-45; Code 1980, § 38-426)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-428 Unattended boats, boat trailers, etc.

§ 38-428. - Unattended boats, boat trailers, etc. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to leave any boat, trailer or other boating equipment unattended outside of an authorized wet-dock or dry-dock area on the Atoka Reservoir-Reservation for more than 72 hours. In any prosecution charging a violation of this section, proof that a particular boat, trailer or item of boating equipment was left unattended in violation of this section, and that the defendant named in the complaint was at the time of the violation the registered owner of such property, shall raise a rebuttable presumption that such registered owner was the person who placed such property at the point where and for the time during which the violation occurred. Any boat, trailer or boating equipment found unattended in violation of this section by the Chief Ranger or any of his assistants may be impounded pursuant to the procedures set forth herein. (b) Upon finding any boat, trailer or other boating equipment which would be subject to impoundment as provided by Subsection (a), the Chief Ranger or a designated assistant is hereby authorized to notify the police department of the location of such property. Members of the police department are hereby authorized to impound such property according to the impoundment procedures set forth in Division 4 of Article II of Chapter 32 of this Code. No such impoundment shall be valid unless made under order of an authorized police officer and in accordance with the procedures required by such division. (c) Upon impounding any boat, trailer or other boating equipment as provided by Subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Chief of Police or a designated assistant shall make a permanent record of such impoundment. The required record shall contain the following information: (1) a description of the impounded property; (2) the date and circumstances of the impoundment thereof; and (3) any identifying names, numbers, letters or marks on such property. In the event that such impounded property is subsequently sold as provided for in Subsection (d) of this section, an additional entry shall be made in the permanent record indicating the date of the sale, the name and address of the purchaser and the amount for which it was sold. (d) Any impounded and unclaimed boat, trailer or other boating equipment which has remained in the possession of the police department for a period of 30 days or longer may be sold pursuant to the procedures set forth in this subsection. Ten days before the sale of any unclaimed property, the Chief of Police shall sign and have posted, in at least four public places in the City, one of which shall be the front door of the police station, a notice of the time, place and manner of sale, and a general description of the property to be sold. Any proceeds received from such sale shall be delivered to the City Treasurer, who shall issue a receipt therefor and deposit the proceeds into the general fund of the City. (e) If the owner of any boat, trailer or other boating equipment sold pursuant to Subsection (d) of this section shall recover possession of such property from the purchaser thereof, the amount paid to the City by such purchaser shall be returned to him upon a verified claim being submitted and approved by the proper City officers. (Ord. No. 15883, § 1(23-41.1), 7-22-80; Code 1980, § 38-427)

Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH38PARECUAFET_ARTVIATRESE_DIV4BO_PTAGEPRFetched: 10/28/2026