Complying with Officers in West Virginia

Natural Resources Police Officers of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources are primarily responsible for enforcing West Virginia boating laws and regulations.

U.S. Coast Guard officers and all other authorized law enforcement officers have the right to stop and board vessels to check that the vessel and the operator are complying with state and federal laws.

Any person operating a vessel on the waters of the state is required to bring their vessel to a stop after having been requested or signaled to do so by any peace officer. The operator must comply with the directives of that officer. 

Homeland Security

Recreational vessel operators must not approach within 100 yards of US Naval vessels and must slow their vessel to minimum speed when within 500 yards of a US Naval vessel. If it is necessary to pass within 100 yards of a US Naval vessel to ensure safe passage, the operator must first contact the US Naval vessel or the US Coast Guard escort vessel on channel 16 of the VHF-FM radio.

Recreational vessel operators must observe and avoid all security zones and restricted areas (e.g. near dams and power plants), and avoid commercial port operation areas.