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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 4. Conservation And Natural Resources
Agency 15. Department of Wildlife Resources
Chapter 430. Watercraft: Safety Equipment Requirements
12/31/2024

4VAC15-430-120. Visual distress signals accepted.

A. Any of the following signals, when carried in the number required, can be used to meet the requirements of 4VAC15-430-80:

1. An electric distress light. One is required to meet the night only requirement.

2. An orange flag. One is required to meet the day only requirement.

3. Pyrotechnics meeting the standards noted in the table below.

B. Any combination of signal devices selected from the types noted in subsection A of this section, when carried in the number required, may be used to meet both day and night requirements. Example -- the combination of two hand held red flares (reference number 1 in table below), and one parachute red flare (reference numbers 3 and 4) meets both day and night requirements.

Pyrotechnic Signal Devices

Reference number

Device Description

Meets Requirement for

Number Required

1

Hand-Held Red Flare Distress Signals3

Day and Night

3

2

Floating Orange Smoke Distress Signals.

Day Only

3

3

Parachute Red Flare Distress Signals.

Day and Night1

3

4

Hand-Held Rocket-Propelled Parachute Red Flare Distress Signals.

Day and Night

3

5

Hand-Held Orange Smoke Distress Signals.

Day Only

3

6

Floating Orange Smoke Distress Signals.

Day Only

3

7

Distress Signal for Boats, Red Aerial Pyrotechnic Flare.

Day and Night2

3

1These signals require use in combination with a suitable launching device.

2These devices may be either meteor or parachute-assisted type. Some of these signals may require use in combination with a suitable launching device.

3Must have manufacture date of Oct. 1, 1980, or later.

Statutory Authority

§§ 29.1-501, 29.1-502, 29.1-701, and 29.1-735 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2003.

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