APPENDIX A
SECTION A: RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE USE OF BOATS ON PONDS AND STREAMS
(Town Meeting voted to accept Massachusetts General Law Chapter 102, Section 15 B on July 10, 1959 which authorized the Board of Selectmen. with the approval of the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, to change Queen Lake Boating Regulations. Changes were made on April 16, 1960, and July 10. 1970. These Rules and Regulations were approved and adopted by the Board of Selectmen on March 27. 1995.)
1. No motor boat or *personal water craft (*PWC’s include, but are not limited to, Jet Skis, wet bikes, surf jets, and others), shall be launched from the Town Boat Ramp on Saturday. Sunday or Holidays from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM during the period commencing with the Saturday preceding Memorial Day and ending on the day following Labor Day
2. No motor boat shall be operated between the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM.
3. Dusk to dawn operation and all towing from any *PWC is prohibited. (Mass. Law)
4. No motor boat or *PWC shall be operated in such a manner that may endanger the lives and safety of the public, or so as to cause, or threaten to cause damage to property. (Mass. Law)
5. All motor boats or *PWC’s shall be operated at a speed that is reasonable, prudent, proper, and safe under all existing conditions, but not to exceed forty-five miles per hour (45 mi/hr). (Mass. Law)
6. In general, boat and *PWC traffic shall proceed around the lake in a counter-clockwise direction.
7. No motor boat or *PWC while being operated by power, shall pass within a distance of one hundred fifty (150) feet of any other boat, canoe, raft, or swimmer. (Mass. Law)
8. No motor boat or *PWC shall be operated at more than head-way speed (6 mi/hr) within two hundred (200) feet of the Town bathing beach, or within one hundred (100) feet of any other bathing beach or shoreline, except for the purpose of taking off or landing.
9. Any motor-propelled boat or *PWC shall yield the right-of-way to any non-motor-propelled boat, stationary boat, or swimmer, whenever meeting or passing occurs.
10. No motor boat or *PWC shall follow closer than two hundred fifty (250) feet behind a person or persons being towed behind another boat.
11. All boats, canoes, and kayaks on the lake at night shall display a light and shall be operated so as not to exceed head-way speed, (no wake). (Mass. Law)
12. No person shall operate any boat or water craft under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or any other mind-altering substances. (Mass. Law)
13. No person shall discharge or dispose of any oil, oily waste, gasoline, raw sewage, garbage, rubbish, or any other debris or toxic matter into the water or onto the shore from any boat or raft. (Mass. Law)
14. All boating or water-skiing accidents involving personal injury or $500 property damage must be reported to the police within twenty-four (24) hours of the occurrence. (Mass. Law)
15. No person shall anchor, dock or beach any boat or water craft on the Town bathing beach property.
16. Any violation of these rules and regulations may be reported to the: Phillipston Police Department; or the Massachusetts State Police; or the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Police. Approved 6/1/98
SECTION B: RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING SWIMMING. WATER-SKIING, SKIN/SCUBA DIVING, RAFTS, AND WINTER ACTIVITIES
1. All persons are cautioned to swim within one hundred (100) feet from shore. Any person swimming further than one hundred (100) feet from shore shall be accompanied by a boat or other visible water craft. All persons skin or SCUBA diving must display a prominent diver's flag or a marker. Divers must then stay within one hundred (100) feet of such marker, and motor boats must stay at least one hundred and fifty (150) feet away from such marker.
2. No person on or around the lake shall dump or dispose of any oil, oily waste, gasoline, raw sewage, garbage, rubbish or any other debris or toxic material into the water, onto the shoreline or onto the ice or snow. (Mass. Law)
3. No person using water-skis, surfboards, or similar devices shall pass within a distance of one hundred (100) feet of any boat, canoe, raft, or other swimmer, or one hundred (100) feet from the shore, except for taking off or landing.
4. No person shall use water-skis, surfboards, or other water devices on the lake negligently so as to endanger the lives and safety of the public, or use such thereon in the nighttime. (Mass. Law)
5. Any person water-skiing or engaging in any similar activity is prohibited within two hundred (200) feet from the Town Beach.
6. No person shall water-ski, surfboard, or use any other water device while under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or other mind-altering substances.
7. No person shall use water-skis, surfboards, or other similar devices without wearing an approved personal flotation device and without an observer over twelve (12) years of age, in the towing boat in addition to the driver. (Mass. Law)
8. No person under the age of sixteen (16) years is 'permitted to operate a *personal water craft (*PWC's include, but are not limited to Jet Skis, wet bikes, surf jets, and others). (Mass. Law)
9. All persons using a *PWC must wear an approved personal flotation device. (Mass. Law)
10. No person shall anchor or position a raft or swimming platform in the water more than seventy-five (75) feet from their shoreline.
11. No road vehicles, including but not limited to automobiles, trucks or motorcycles shall be allowed onto the lake during the winter months in which the lake is frozen, except for emergency purposes only, or by permit of the Selectmen. (Voted at town meeting May 5, 2010 – not approved by Attorney General yet. As of 6-19-2010)
(These Rules and Regulations were approved and adopted by the Board of Selectmen on March 27, 1995.) Approved 6/1/98