California Boating Law

CALIFORNIA BOATING LAW

(e) Neither the report required by this section nor any action taken by the department with regard to the report shall be referred to in any way, or be any evidence of negligence or due care of any party, at the trial of any action at law to recover damages. (f) All required accident reports, and supplemental reports, shall be without prejudice to the individual so reporting and shall be for the confidential use of the department and any peace officer actually engaged in the enforcement of this chapter, except that the department shall disclose the names and addresses of persons involved in, or witnesses to, an accident, the registration numbers and descriptions of vessels involved, and the date, time, and location of an accident to any person who may have a proper interest therein, including the operators involved or the legal guardian thereof, the parent of a minor operator, the authorized representative of an operator, or to any person injured therein and the owners of vessels or property damaged thereby. (g) This section applies to foreign vessels, military or public recreational-type vessels, vessels owned by a state or subdivision thereof, and ship’s lifeboats otherwise exempted from this chapter pursuant to Section 650.1. 656.1. Damage to property. The operator of any vessel involved in an accident in the waters of this state who knows or has reason to know that the accident resulted in damage to other property shall, if reasonable to do so under the circumstances, stop at the scene of the accident and shall do either of the following: (a) Locate and notify the owner or person in charge of the damaged property of the name and address of the operator and owner of the vessel involved, and upon locating the owner or operator of any other vessel involved, or the owner or person in charge of any other property damaged, upon being requested, exhibit the vessel registration and furnish the current residence address of the vessel’s owner and operator to the other person. (b) If the owner or person in charge of the damaged property or the owner or operator of any other vessel involved cannot be located, leave, in a conspicuous place on the property damaged or other vessel involved, a written notice giving the name and address of the operator and of the owner of the vessel involved and a statement of the circumstances of the accident, and, without unnecessary delay, notify the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the waterway or, if unknown, the sheriff of the county in which the accident occurred. 656.2. Damage resulting in injury. In addition to the requirements of Section 656.1, the operator of any vessel involved in an accident in the waters of this state who knows or has reason to know that the accident resulted in injury to any person shall furnish his or her name, address, and the registration number of the vessel, and the name of the owner, to the person injured, or occupant of any other vessel involved, or shall furnish that information to any peace officer at the scene of the accident, and shall render to any injured person reasonable assistance, including transportation for medical treatment if required or requested by the injured person, so far as the operator can do so without serious danger to the vessel or passengers. 656.3. Death or disappearance. In addition to the requirements of Sections 656.1 and 656.2, the operator of any vessel involved in an accident in the waters of this state who knows or has reason to know that the accident resulted in the death or disappearance of any person shall, after fulfilling the requirements of this division, and if there is no peace officer at the scene of the accident to whom to furnish the information required by Section 656.2, without delay, report the accident to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the waterway or, if unknown, the sheriff of the county in which the accident occurred.

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