The Schaefer Lake Lot Owners Associates
(hereinafter referred to as the “Association”), per Article III of the Bylaws
to the Articles of Incorporation, has the responsibility and authority to adopt
and publish rules and regulations governing, regulating, and restricting, the
use of Common Area(s) and the personal conduct of the members and their guests
thereon and also to regulate, govern, and restrict the use of boats, motors,
and water safety on Schaefer Lake.
These rules and regulations are intended
to promote the common benefit and enjoyment of Association members and the
residents of Schaefer Lake. To that end,
courtesy and respect for the rights of others should be shown at all times.
All lot owners are subjected to these
rules and regulations. Members may
extend their privileges to their family and guests and are responsible for
their awareness and compliance with these rules and regulations.
Persons in violation of these rules and
regulations will be notified by letter and provided an opportunity for a
hearing with the Board of Directors. The
Board may impose fines and/or restrictions on the use
of Schaefer Lake.
These rules and regulations are based on
and consistent with the Laws of the State of Indiana, specifically Indiana
Boating Laws and Responsibilities (IBL&R) (IC 14-15) and Indiana Fishing
Regulations.
I:
Boating
1.
A
watercraft is defined as any vessel, powered or non-powered, such as but not limited to, speedboat, pontoon boat, fishing boat, personal watercraft (PWC), sail boat, kayak, canoe and paddleboard.
2. Watercraft shall operate safely at all times, even
when there is no specific rule that applies.
A person may not operate a watercraft in manner that unnecessarily
endangers the person or property of another person. (IBL&R)
3. All powered watercraft are required to be registered
with the Association, per the Watercraft Registration Policy. The registration sticker must be displayed on
the right rear corner of the watercraft.
4. No “guest” watercraft, powered or non-powered, are permitted
on the lake at any time, except for the purpose of test driving a watercraft. Test drives will be limited to one hour and
the member shall notify the Secretary of the Board of Directors.
5. Each lot owner is permitted up to four powered
watercraft, such as but not limited to, speedboat, pontoon boat, fishing boat, and
PWC.
6. Watercraft are limited to less than 26 feet in length (tip of bow to
stern).
7. All watercraft must carry one wearable (Type I, II,
III or V) U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD) for each
person on board or being towed. (IBL&R)
8. Watercraft 16 feet in length or longer (except a canoe
or kayak) must have one Type IV (throwable)
USCG-approved PFD on board and readily accessible. (IBL&R)
9. Each person on board a PWC must wear a PFD. (IBL&R)
10. No one under 15 years of age may operate a motorboat
greater than 10 horsepower or a PWC unless accompanied by a lot owner.
11. All powered watercraft shall proceed in a
counter-clockwise fashion and use extreme caution when crossing the lake. (Direction may vary when fishing from lake bank side.)
12. Non-powered watercraft have
the right of way at all times.
13. Operating a watercraft at more than idle speed between
sunset and sunrise is prohibited. (IBL&R)
14. All watercraft are restricted to idle speed within 50
feet of the shoreline. (IBL&R)
15. All watercraft must maintain safe and clear distance
from other watercraft and skiers.
16. Allowing passengers or operators to ride on the
gunwale or on the bow where they may fall overboard is not permitted. (IBL&R)
17. Operating a watercraft causing a hazardous wake or
wash from your watercraft is prohibited. (IBL&R)
18. Lights are to be used on all watercraft approximately
30 minutes before sunset and ending 30 minutes after sunrise. Reference The
Handbook of Indiana Boating Laws and Responsibilities for proper navigation
lights.
19. It is prohibited to operate a powered watercraft or
PWC while intoxicated due to alcohol or any combination of alcohol, controlled
substance, or drugs. It is prohibited
for owners of motorboats or PWCs to operate or allow anyone else to operate
their motorboat or PWC while that person is intoxicated. (IBL&R)
20. Racing boats and racing of watercraft are prohibited.
21. Maximum speed shall be reasonable and prudent for
traffic and lake conditions.
II: Skiing
1. A skier is defined as anyone riding a water ski (or
barefoot), tube, or other floatation device.
2.
All skiers are to
remain at least 50 feet from the shoreline and other traffic.
3.
All skiers must
wear a USCG-approved PFD. (IBL&R)
4. Every boat or PWC towing a skier(s) must have a
person on board, in addition to the operator, observing the skier(s) at all
times. (IBL&R)
5. Each lot shall be restricted to one watercraft
towing skiers on the lake at a time.
6. No watercraft shall tow more than two ski lines,
i.e., skiers or towables, at any time.
7. The slalom ski course shall be removed by noon on
summer holiday weekends: Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.
III: Fishing
1. Indiana Fishing Regulations apply to fishing on
Schaefer Lake except as noted below.
2. No fishing license is required.
3. No size or bag limits apply.
4. Only members and their guests accompanied by a
member are permitted to fish in the lake.
5. Commercial fishing is prohibited.
6. Placing fish in the lake for stocking purposes is
prohibited.
7. Use of seines, traps (except minnow traps), gigs,
fire arms, pellet and air guns, explosives, shocking devices, arrows, spear
guns, trot lines, limb or drop lines, and other similar devices is prohibited.
8. Unattended lines secured to docks, etc., are not
permitted.
IV:
Miscellaneous
1. No
traffic, including fishing, swimming, etc., shall be permitted on the dam and
spillway.
2. Deposit of debris, waste or trash of any kind into the
waters of the lake is prohibited. This
includes trees, limbs, and leaves. It is
also the responsibility of any lot owner to remove all fallen trees, limbs,
etc., that came from their property.
3. It is the responsibility of the lot owner to remove,
at their expense, any boat house, boat lift, or pier that is unsafe for
use.
4. No hunting shall be permitted on the lake at any
time.
5. Firearms shall not be discharged on, onto, or across
the lake. B-B guns or other potentially
dangerous weapons for varmint control should be used with extreme caution and
with due respect for the safety and peace of mind of others.
6. The Association Safety Committee has the
responsibility and authority for ensuring member safety in all common
areas. Safety issues, especially
disregarding boating regulations and operating unauthorized boats, should be
reported to a safety committee representative or Board member and they will
administer appropriate corrective action.
Each lot owner has the responsibility to preserve the safety of our
lake.
7. Persons in violation of these rules and regulations will be subject to fines following one written warning (annually), and having
had an opportunity for a hearing with the Board. A $50 fine may be imposed for the second
offense and up to $500 for subsequent occurrences.
These rules and regulations were approved
by the membership and executed this ___ day of ________, 2018.
_____________________
Carrie Trotter, President