A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require the use of skier down flags on Lake Norman.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Whenever any person leaves any watercraft, other than a personal watercraft, on the waters of Lake Norman and enters the water between sunrise and sunset, the operator of such watercraft shall display on the watercraft a red or orange flag measuring not less than 12 inches by 12 inches. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a watercraft that is moored or anchored. The flag required by this section shall be visible for 360 degrees around the horizon when displayed and shall be displayed only when an occupant of the watercraft has left the confines of the watercraft and entered the water. The flag required by this section shall not be displayed when the watercraft is engaged in towing any person but shall be displayed when such person has ceased being towed and has reentered the water.
SECTION 2.  No operator shall knowingly operate any watercraft within 50 yards of a flag required by Section 1 of this act at a speed in excess of a no‑wake speed.
SECTION 3.  This act is enforceable under G.S. 75A‑17 as if it were a provision of Chapter 75A of the General Statutes.
SECTION 4.  Violation of this act is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
SECTION 5.  This act applies only to the waters of Lake Norman in Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg Counties.
SECTION 6.  This act becomes effective April 1, 2021, and applies to offenses occurring on or after that date.