Most tournament rules have one that mentions contestants may not break state laws.

Off and on over the years, I've heard there's some state law in Texas that requires boats to travel at idle or no-wake speeds when passing under bridges on lakes and rivers.

I haven't been able to find that state law but perhaps some of you may know which one it is, if there really is one.

I know some authorities have marked a bridge with signs like ones I saw at Fork or Coleto Creek. These are likely local or lake authority regulations.

So, what's the word (state law) all bridges or variable local regulations for some bridges.

Thanks for your help. I did a search on this thread but did not pull this up, and I thought I asked about it before. Guess not. Apologies if I'm re-hashing an old TFF topic. - ray

I have been told it is all bridges.

Some folks will run the 66 bridge on Hubbard since it's not posted but I do believe that is illegal.

Good post. I'm curious.

Interesting.... I have always run bridges that are not marked as no wake.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/pwd_br_l2000_0001/index.phtml

Down towards the bottom, under "Operation of Your Boat" it is covered under the first rule. It is written in a way that if the GW sees you act in a way they deem "greater than reasonable and prudent" then they have the right to pull you over and ticket you.

What does this mean to us boaters? Don't do something stupid like run the bridge at 40MPH. SLOW DOWN and you won't get pulled over.

-Chase

How is running under a bridge on pad "greater than resonable and prudent"? If this were the case we could fund all the state parks for a year if they ever enforced it. Also I have seen tournament launches where 150-200 boats have all ran a bridge at 60 mph right in front of the tournament director. If its not marked "no wake" I am running it. Now if there are folks tied off and fishing anywhere near where I am going to pass through I will shut down and idle, but my wake on pad is much smaller than what it puts off when I shut down.

I totally agree that its a stupid law. This is just another example of how a GW has tons of power to throw around. The laws are wide open to interpretation and they have no jurisdiction. They could come all the way to your house if they had probable cause.

Basically from what I read you just have to operate your boat in a safe manner at a safe speed and be able to control and stop your boat in a safe distance. Be it under a bridge or in wide open water.

With that said, I don't find anything in reading that tpwd site that indicates a boater has to idle under a bridge.

Seems to me if you have good safe clearance all the way around the area, then you can keep on running. If you don't have good safe clearance, then you idle. Of course, if it is posted "no wake" you idle. You also have to keep in mind you need to keep a watch for anything that might be hanging from the bridge or tied between columns. Also if people are fishing or other boats are obstacles are in the area, you may need to idle.

Always error on the side of caution. That said, if you have good safe clearance all the way around, then I don't read anything that indicates you have to idle under. Just always be cautious and be able to control your boat in whatever area you are in.

Just use common sense.

I like to see what I am fixing to get myself into so if I come upon a bridge that I can't see all clear I am slowing down. If on plane I am ready for surprises.
That would be prudent. If I'm driving under 2 mile bridge or any of the big Fork bridges I can see anybody that can possibly give me trouble.
The 35 bridge on Ray Hubbard and I can't see from the sides and I don't need a sign or bouy.....I'm going slow through there.

Its kinda like navigating the cut at Lewisville. I go off plane but I may be traveling at 6 mph whereas in a marina where my wake is dangerous I am going to be down to 2 1/2 or 3. Just common sense for me.

This is not a recommendation. I am responsible for my mistakes.

There are some states that mandate off plane going under all bridges. I think Missouri is one of those.

The TPWD digest and the water safety act were two of the places I searched to see if I could find wording about bridges.

The current state digest wording is...

It is UNLAWFUL for any person to:
1. Operate at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and prudent or greater than will permit him to bring such boat to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.
2. Operate so as to cause a hazardous wake or wash.

I couldn't stretch this to be a state universal bridge idle or no-wake regulation, and the following comments are only my opinions...

Boats should be capable of a safe stop (given an approaching boat) while on plane (not just at idle or no-wake), and approaching boaters should be visible at mid-bridge with open span design structures.

We could argue about drivers that go under bridges with the hammer down being imprudent, but we could also argue there is a difference between hammer-down and on-plane. We could also argue that some bridges or certain areas at some bridges do not offer visibility. But, this seems more circumstantial than universal.

It could also be argued that if you can't safely stop your boat while on plane then you could never operate your boat on plane.

I appreciate the reader mentioning the digest. Do others agree that this is the bridge idle or no-wake state law? -ray

I run bridges on plane unless a bouy marker is there stating no wake.

I remember running Lewisville Bridge at I 35, before they put up bouys

We were at Sandlin a few weeks ago fishing CABA and the the TD made it clear to idle under all bridges... his rule not the lake rule...4 or 5 boats ahead of us never slowed down and we saw people all day running it...I guess if they arent going to obey the TD's rule on that then what else will the break?

To me it makes sense to idle under bridges, but that is what I do and just my opinion. I try to be as safety oriented on the water as I can be. I mostly fish Worth and put in right there at the 820 bridge. I've seen a few close calls and been in one myself from people running up the middle of the bridge with crossing traffic. You just can't see every possible thing going on.

I agree with fwbassman. I have seen countless boats pass under 515 (marked No Wake)on Fork at wot. This is just dangerous because other boats run with the bridge to get to the boat lane.
Slow down and take an extra 15 seconds to safely pass under the bridge. My .02

There used to be some wording about creating a wake within 50 feet of a man-made structure, but I can't find that anymore. I know the Game Wardens on Hubbard used that to ticket Jet Skiers that were being stupid around the bridge pilings.

Seams sensible to slow down any time you don't have 100% visibility. Smaller craft could easily be hidden from view by a bridge piling.
How much is that lost fishing time worth compared to an accident?