Officers to step up boating patrol over Memorial Day weekend

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – As you head out on the water over Memorial Day weekend, so will law enforcement.

Thousands of boats will be out this weekend, and law enforcement officials said you should remember to wear a life jacket.

“It’s one of the busiest boating weekends out of the whole year,” Corporal J. Trufan with the Punta Gorda Police Department said. “We’ll have several officers out this weekend and we’ll have a team out looking specifically for impaired drivers.”

Drinking and boating is just as dangerous as drinking and driving. Alcohol is one of the biggest culprits in deadly boat crashes, but it’s not just those beers that are dangerous. Propellers are too.

“If you’re going to be close to other boats, you’re maneuvering an anchor stuff like that, just kill the engine,” Trufan said. “Because there’s going to be a lot of people walking around in the water stuff like that.”

Officials report holiday weekends can bring out boaters who rarely hit the water, so they suggested brushing up on safety policies and checking in on your equipment before heading out.

“Safety and fun at the same time,” Trufan said. “So it’s going to be a major boating weekend, there’s going to be a lot of people out there. I want to remind everybody to have fun but do it safely at the same time.”

Marine patrol can stop you for a safety check anytime- they don’t need probable cause. So make sure your operator is boating sober.

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