{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-29.1-742","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 29.1-742","heading":"Towing water skis, surfboards, etc","body":"A. No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of the Commonwealth for towing a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device unless there is in the vessel a person, in addition to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person or persons being towed or unless the skier or skiers wear life preservers.B. No person shall operate a vessel on any water of the Commonwealth towing a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device, nor shall any person engage in water skiing or a similar activity at any time between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. The provisions of this subsection shall not constitute a defense to any provision of § 29.1-738.C. The provisions of subsections A and B of this section do not apply to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition.D. No person shall operate or manipulate any vessel, towrope, or other device by which the direction or location of water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device may be affected or controlled in such a way as to cause the water skis, surfboard, or similar device, or any person upon the device to collide with any object or person.1960, c. 500, § 62-174.13; 1962, c. 626; 1968, c. 659, § 62.1-179; 1982, c. 236; 1987, c. 488; 1988, c. 265; 1993, c. 275; 1997, c. 108.","path":["Title 29.1. Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating","Chapter 7. BOATING LAWS","Article 3. BOATING SAFETY"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/29.1-742/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:15:24Z","sha256":"26aa08045b6cea5548cdabbed962ef4723ffb1edbae3214685e1d4fa91e1e230","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-29.1-741","next":"us-va/va.-code-29.1-743"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}