16.04.040 Definitions.

As used in this title, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following words shall have the meaning set forth below:

(1)    “Aids to navigation” means buoys, beacons and other fixed objects in or on the water which are used to mark channels, obstructions to navigation, or restricted areas.

(2)    “Authorized emergency vessel” means those vessels of the county or municipal police or fire department, the United States government, and the state of Washington equipped with red or blue lights and siren.

(3)    “Board” means the board of county commissioners of Clark County.

(4)    “County” means Clark County, state of Washington.

(5)    “Darkness” means that period between one (1) hour after sunset and one (1) hour before sunrise.

(6)    “Diver’s flag” means a red flag, five (5) units of measurement on the hoist by six (6) units of measurement on the fly with a white stripe of one (1) unit crossing the red diagonally, the flag having a stiffener to make it stand out from the pole or mast. This flag shall only pertain to skin an scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving and shall supplement any nationally recognized diver’s flag or marking. A unit of measurement shall not be less than two (2) inches.

(7)    “Livery” means the business of renting or leasing boats.

(8)    “Motorboat” means any vessel propelled through the use of an internal combustion motor or other artificial means, other than oars, sails or similar devices.

(9)    “Operator” means the person who is in control or in charge of a vessel while it is in use.

(10)    “Person” means and includes natural persons, associations, copartnerships, and corporations, whether acting by themselves or by a servant, agent or employee; the singular number, when necessary, means the plural.

(11)    “Personal flotation device” means life preservers, buoyant vests, special purpose water safety devices, buoyant cushions, ring buoys, and work vests, each of which must be United States Coast Guard approved.

(12)    “Pier” means any pier, wharf, dock, float, gridiron or other structure intended to provide for the loading or unloading or other discharge of vessels or for their service or repair, or to provide access for persons to the water from the shore fishing, swimming or any other water-related activity.

(13)    “Restricted area” means an area that has been designated to be used for, or closed to, certain purposes such as swimming, underwater diving, vessel operation, and competitions or exhibitions on water, including races, regattas and trials therefor.

(14)    “Seaplane” means any aircraft, including those commonly referred to as ultralights, used or designed for the landing and/or taking off from bodies of water.

(15)    “Sheriff” means the Clark County sheriff or his deputies.

(16)    “Shoreline” means the existing intersection of water with the ground surface or with any permanent, shore connected facility.

(17)    “Slow—No-wake” means the speed at which the particular boat being operated does not create a discernible wake, but in no event, a speed in excess of five (5) miles per hour.

(18)    “Swimming” includes floating on any air mattress, inner tube or similar inflatable device, not including inflatable rafts, as well as propelling or floating oneself in the water.

(19)    “Testing course” means a course or area on the water designated for use in industrial development and testing of experimental and production vessels.

(20)    “Underwater diving” means the activity of submerging in water while equipped with snorkeling, hard hat or scuba diving equipment.

(21)    “Vessel” means every waterborne conveyance used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, including sailboards, other than a seaplane.

(22)    “Waters of the county” means any surface waters within the unincorporated area of the county. (Sec. 1 of Ord. 1991-10-08)