Florida Statute 327.33 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XXIV
VESSELS

Chapter 327
VESSEL SAFETY

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F.S. 327.33

327.33 Reckless or careless operation of vessel.—

(1) It is unlawful to operate a vessel in a reckless manner. A person who operates any vessel, or manipulates any water skis, aquaplane, or similar device, in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property at a speed or in a manner as to endanger, or likely to endanger, life or limb, or damage the property of, or injure a person is guilty of reckless operation of a vessel. Reckless operation of a vessel includes, but is not limited to, a violation of s. 327.331(6). A person who violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) A person who operates any vessel upon the waters of this state shall operate the vessel in a reasonable and prudent manner, having regard for other waterborne traffic, posted speed and wake restrictions, and all other attendant circumstances so as not to endanger the life, limb, or property of another person outside the vessel or to endanger the life, limb, or property of another person due to vessel overloading or excessive speed. The failure to operate a vessel in a manner described in this subsection constitutes careless operation. However, vessel wake and shoreline wash resulting from the reasonable and prudent operation of a vessel, absent negligence, does not constitute damage or endangerment to property. A person who violates this subsection commits a noncriminal violation as defined in s. 775.08.

(3) Each person operating a vessel upon the waters of this state shall comply with the navigation rules.

(a) A person who violates the navigation rules and the violation results in a boating accident causing serious bodily injury as defined in s. 327.353 or death, but the violation does not constitute reckless operation of a vessel, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(b) A person who violates the navigation rules and the violation does not constitute reckless operation of a vessel commits a noncriminal violation as defined in s. 775.08, punishable as provided in s. 327.73.

(c) Law enforcement vessels may deviate from the navigational rules when such diversion is necessary to the performance of their duties and when such deviation may be safely accomplished.

(4) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the ascertainment of fault in vessel operations and boating accidents shall be determined according to the navigation rules.

History.—s. 1, ch. 59-400; s. 3, ch. 63-105; s. 1, ch. 65-361; s. 6, ch. 81-100; s. 6, ch. 84-188; s. 6, ch. 86-35; s. 2, ch. 88-133; s. 2, ch. 89-136; s. 45, ch. 91-224; s. 1, ch. 92-92; s. 6, ch. 2000-362; s. 1, ch. 2011-152; s. 1, ch. 2016-134; s. 4, ch. 2016-171.

Note.—Former s. 371.50.

F.S. 327.33 on Google Scholar

F.S. 327.33 on Casetext

Amendments to 327.33

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 327.33

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S327.33 1 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RECKLESS OPERATION OF VESSEL - M: F

S327.33 2 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - REMOVED - I: N

S327.33 3a - HEALTH-SAFETY - VIOL NAVIGATN RULES CAUSE SER BOD INJURY DEATH - M: S

S327.33 3b - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - REMOVED - I: N

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 327.33

Total Results: 12

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2018-09.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2019-01-04

Citation: 262 So. 3d 59

Snippet: Reckless driving 316.192 28.5 Reckless operation of 327.33 vessel Culpable negligence 784.05(2) 8.9 Culpable

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2017-09.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-03-08

Citation: 238 So. 3d 192

Snippet: [OPERATION OF A VESSEL] [MANIPULATION] § 327.33(1), Fla. Stat. To prove the crime of

American Heritage Life Insurance Co. v. Morales

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2015-01-21

Citation: 159 So. 3d 160, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 653, 2015 WL 249333

Snippet: Vfehicle] 1 in violation of Florida State Statute 327.33(1) which states, it is unlawful to operate a vessel

In Re Standard Jury Inst. in Criminal Cases-Report No. 2008-05

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2008-10-16

Citation: 994 So. 2d 1038, 33 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 836, 2008 Fla. LEXIS 1974, 2008 WL 4587203

Snippet: Reckless or careless operation 327.33 of vessel ---------------------------------

In Re Jury Inst. in Crim. Cases-No. 2006-1

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2006-12-21

Citation: 946 So. 2d 1061, 2006 WL 3741064

Snippet: --- Reckless or Careless 327.33 -------------------- -------

J.S.G. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2006-04-28

Citation: 927 So. 2d 187, 2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 6146, 2006 WL 1113539

Snippet: which is a second-degree misdemeanor under section 327.33(3)(a), Florida Statutes (2003). The trial court

Ago

Court: Florida Attorney General Reports | Date Filed: 2000-06-22

Snippet: enforcement of noncriminal violations of section 327.33, Florida Statutes, relating to the careless operation

Lee County v. Lippi

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1995-10-25

Citation: 662 So. 2d 1304, 1995 WL 621536

Snippet: for enforcement of noncriminal violations of s. 327.33 relating to the careless operation of a vessel

State v. Smith

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1993-09-17

Citation: 624 So. 2d 355, 1993 Fla. App. LEXIS 9414, 1993 WL 356914

Snippet: Gruen addresses the constitutionality of section 327.33(3)(a), Florida Statutes (1989). That statute provides

Krebs v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1991-10-24

Citation: 588 So. 2d 38, 1991 WL 213269

Snippet: convicted in the county court of violating section 327.33(3)(a), Florida Statutes, governing navigation on

State v. Gruen

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1991-10-01

Citation: 586 So. 2d 1280, 1991 WL 193106

Snippet: defendant's motion to dismiss and finding section 327.33(3)(a), Florida Statutes (1989) unconstitutional

State v. City of Miami

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1946-07-16

Citation: 27 So. 2d 118, 157 Fla. 726, 1946 Fla. LEXIS 838

Snippet: 122; City of Edwardsville v. Jenkins, 376 Ill. 327,33 N.E.2d 598; Wolcott v. Village of Lombard, 387