City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 16A
Chapter 16A.60
Section 16A.60.100
 

Title 16A Transportation

Chapter 16A.60 Rules of the River

Section 16A.60.100 Vessel Accident Reporting

  1. In the case of a boating accident, it shall be the duty of the operator, if he or she can do so without serious danger to the operator’s own vessel, to themselves or other persons on board, to render all practical and necessary assistance that may be necessary to other persons affected by such boating accident.

    1. Under no circumstances may the rendering of assistance or other compliance with this section be evidence of the liability of such operator for the accident.

  2. Any person who complies with subsection (A) of this section or who gratuitously and in good faith renders assistance at the scene of a vessel accident, without objection of any person assisted, shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of the rendering of assistance or for any act or omission in providing or arranging salvage, towage, medical treatment or other assistance where the assisting person acts as any reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.

  3. Every accident involving a vessel on any waterway in which there is personal injury that requires medical attention beyond first aid or death or damage to property in excess of two thousand dollars shall be reported to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office within forty-eight hours by the vessel operator unless deceased, in which instance a passenger in the vessel, if any, shall have such duty.

    1. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office shall provide forms upon which the report shall be rendered.

  4. When as a result of an occurrence that involves a vessel or its equipment a person dies or disappears from a vessel, the operator, unless deceased, in which instance a passenger, if any, shall without delay notify the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office of the:

    1. date, time and exact location of the occurrence;

    2. name of each person who dies or disappears;

    3. number and/or name of the vessels involved;

    4. names and addresses of the owner and operator of each vessel or vessels involved.

Date Passed: Monday, April 23, 2018

Effective Date: Sunday, June 3, 2018

ORD C35612 Section 4