Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 250. Section 250.
When steam vessels meet each shall turn to the right, so as to pass without interference.
CHAPTER 2. Penalties [250. - 268.]
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC 2.
in effectCal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 251. Section 251.
When a passenger is to be landed from a steam vessel by means of a small boat, he shall not be permitted to get into it until it is completely afloat and wholly disengaged from the steam vessel except by the painter.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 252. Section 252.
No line used for the purpose of landing or receiving passengers may be attached in any way to the machinery of any steam vessel nor may the small boat used for such purpose be hauled in by means of such machinery.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 253. Section 253.
During the landing and receiving of a passenger, and the going and returning of the small boat for the purpose, the engine shall be stopped, and may not be put in motion, except to give sufficient force to keep the steam vessel in a proper direction and safe position.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 254. Section 254.
There shall be kept in every small boat a good and suitable pair of oars. In the night-time a signal, by means of a horn or trumpet, shall be given to the steam vessel from the small boat, when having landed or received its passengers, it is ready to leave the shore.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 255. Section 255.
A steam vessel going in the same direction as a steam vessel ahead of it shall not approach or pass within the distance of ten yards; and the steam vessel ahead shall not be so navigated as unnecessarily to bring it within ten yards of the steam vessel following.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 256. Section 256.
When any steam vessel is running in the night-time the master shall cause to be shown two conspicuous lights, one exposed near the bow and the other near the stern, the latter to be at least twenty feet above the deck.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 257. Section 257.
Every person in charge of a steam vessel who violates any of the provisions of the preceding seven sections, incurs a penalty of two hundred and fifty dollars for each offense.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 258. Section 258.
The person in charge of any vessel at anchor in the night-time in any of the harbors or ports within the jurisdiction of this state, who fails to cause a conspicuous light to be shown in the rigging at least twenty feet above the deck, and another light to be shown from the taffrail, incurs a penalty of fifty dollars for every neglect.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 259. Section 259.
Neither the master nor the owner of any vesel can recover damages for injuries to the vessel or to himself resulting from a collision growing out of a failure to comply with the provisions of the preceding six sections.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 260. Section 260.
Every raft of timber floated on the Sacramento or San Joaquin rivers at night which fails to show two red lights, one at each end, and at least ten feet above the upper logs or plank, incurs a penalty of fifty dollars for each neglect.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 261. Section 261.
Every steam vessel navigating any waters of this State and carrying passengers, shall be equipped with boats as follows:
(a)
If of five hundred tons measurement, one first-class life-boat and one row-boat, twenty-five feet long by seven wide, each capable of carrying fifty persons; and at least one other good row-boat.
(b)
If of two hundred and fifty and less than five hundred tons measurement, at least two ordinary row-boats.
(c)
If of less than two hundred and fifty tons burden, at least one small row-boat.
The boats shall be so attached that they can be launched at any time for immediate use.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 262. Section 262.
Every master or owner, and each of them, of any vessel not provided with boats as required by this chapter, incurs a penalty of not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 263. Section 263.
Every person in charge of a steam vessel navigating any of the waters of this State which is used for the conveyance of passengers, and every person in charge of the boiler or other apparatus for the generation of steam who, for the purpose of increasing speed or excelling any other vessel in speed, permits to be created an undue or an unsafe quantity of steam, incurs a penalty of five hundred dollars.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 264. Section 264.
(a)
A captain or other person having charge of any steam vessel used for the conveyance of passengers, or of its boilers and engines, who, from ignorance or gross neglect, or for the purpose of excelling any other boat in speed, creates, or allows to be created, such an undue quantity of steam as to burst or break the boiler, or any apparatus or machinery connected with the boiler, by which bursting or breaking human life is endangered, is guilty of a felony.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person found guilty of a felony violation of this section shall be subject to a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16
months, two or three years, or both that fine and imprisonment.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 265. Section 265.
The owners of every steam vessel are responsible for the good conduct of the master or other person in charge employed by them, and they are jointly and severally liable as sureties for any penalty established by this chapter.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 266. Section 266.
The penalties established by this chapter may be recovered by the district attorney of any county bordering on the water where the offense was committed or the penalty incurred, to whom notice is first given, and when recovered shall be equally divided between the county unapportioned elementary school fund and the indigent-sick fund of the county.
Any judgment pursuant to this section is a lien on the vessel against whose owners or master it is recovered.
Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 268. Section 268.
(a)
Counties or cities may adopt restrictions concerning the navigation and operation of vessels and water skis, aquaplanes, or similar devices subject to the provisions of subdivision (a) of Section 660, and may grant permits to bona fide yacht clubs, water ski clubs, or civic organizations to conduct vessel or water ski races or other marine events over courses established, marked, and patrolled by authority of the United States Coast Guard, city harbormaster, or other officer having authority over the waters on which such race or other marine event is proposed to be conducted and on such days and between such hours as may be approved thereby. These provisions shall not apply to marine events authorized by United States Coast Guard permit.
(b)
The provisions of this section shall apply to all waters which are in fact navigable regardless of whether they are declared navigable by this code.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026