Onondaga County, New York – As we approach July 4th and the heart of the boating season, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office Navigation Unit would like to remind boaters of the speed limit on the rivers in Onondaga County (NYS Canal). The Sheriff’s Office has received an extraordinary amount of complaints regarding vessels speeding in the canal. We have increased our patrols and encountered numerous boats traveling well above the speed limit. The river is narrow and is becoming a very congested waterway, which is utilized by recreational boats, commercial operations, paddle craft, swimmers and anglers. Lock 23 sees the most traffic in the State and is located in Onondaga County. The canal speed limit is there to protect everyone’s free and safe use of the waterway and also to protect private property owners, public and canal infrastructure from damaging wake.
The speed limits apply to all vessels on the water including Personal Watercraft. The speed limit is a maximum speed limit with a NO WAKE clause. Operators are responsible for their wake both criminally and civilly.
Navigation Deputies patrolling the river this past weekend issued 39 warnings for speeding vessels. They are urging everyone to be safe and slow down. Navigation Deputies will be out enforcing the speed limit so remember follow the speed limits to avoid a citation.
Speed Limits:
- Oneida Lake – No Speed Limit
- Oneida River west to Lock 23 – 5MPH (No Ripple, No Wake)
- Oneida River west to Three Rivers – 10MPH (Ripple, No Wake)
- Seneca River west through the state ditch – 10MPH (Ripple, No Wake)
- Onondaga Lake Cut – 5MPH (No Ripple, No Wake)
- Onondaga Lake – No Speed Limit
- Inner Harbor – 5MPH (No Ripple, No Wake)
- State Ditch west to county line (30mph)
- Cross Lake – No Speed Limit
See http://www.canals.ny.gov for further information.
