Legal Operation
What is the law about tampering with buoys or other aids to navigation?
Answer
It is illegal to move, tie up to, deface, or destroy aids to navigation
Aids to navigation are federal property, and it is illegal to move, damage, deface, or tie up to them (mooring buoys excepted). Tampering can mislead other boaters into danger.
Source: Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives — 14 U.S.C. 543, Interference with aids to navigation; penalty — https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title14-section543&num=0&edition=prelim
Not the answer
- You may take a buoy as a souvenir
- Only government agencies care about buoys
- It is allowed if they are in your way
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