Noise Level Standards

(1) No person shall operate any vessel in or upon the waters of Tennessee in such a manner so that the total noise produced by the watercraft exceeds 86 dBA at a distance of 50 feet or more, whether or not said vessel is in motion. (a) Measurements shall be made with a Type I or Type II sound level meter which meets the requirements of the American National Standards Institute SI.4-1971. (b) Measurements shall be taken at a minimum distance of 50 feet, and in so far as practical, be taken at an angle approximately perpendicular to the vessel in question. (c) A test course, if used in testing, shall consist of an approximately straight course 50 yards in length through which the vessel in question shall operate at full throttle; measurements shall be made at a minimum distance of 50 feet and at an angle approximately perpendicular to the vessel near the center of the course. (d) Any duly commissioned officer of the Wildlife Resources Agency with a reason to suspect that a vessel is exceeding the noise limitation may require the vessel operator to transverse a noise emission test course as set forth herein. (e) Any person who fails to comply with the directive to transverse the test course shall be subject to prosecution under T.C.A. § 69-9-301 et seq. and/or at the discretion of the officer, the vessel shall be ordered to immediately return to its mooring and cease operations.