33 CFR § 117.11 - Unnecessary opening of the draw.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s117.11"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 117.11 - Unnecessary opening of the draw."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "117.11"
section_name: "Unnecessary opening of the draw."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "J"
subchapter_name: "BRIDGES"
part_number: "117"
part_name: "DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05-1; and DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "CGD 82-025, 49 FR 17452, Apr. 24, 1984, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "117"
---


# 117.11 Unnecessary opening of the draw.

No vessel owner or operator shall—

(a) Signal a drawbridge to open if the vertical clearance is sufficient to allow the vessel, after all lowerable nonstructural vessel appurtenances that are not essential to navigation have been lowered, to safely pass under the drawbridge in the closed position; or

(b) Signal a drawbridge to open for any purpose other than to pass through the drawbridge opening.

[CGD 91-059, 59 FR 16563, Apr. 7, 1994]