Officials Warn Of Boating Under The Influence, Water Safety

The Labor Day weekend means fun in the sun, and for many in Bucks County, it means time boating on the mighty Delaware River.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission warned that boaters to stay sober and be safe on the water during the long weekend.

“As much as everyone is looking forward to getting out on the water this holiday weekend, our goal is to make sure they get home safely,” said Col. Corey Britcher, director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Bureau of Law Enforcement. “Waterways conservation officers will be patrolling rivers and lakes across the commonwealth checking for required safety equipment and signs of impaired boating.”

In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to operate powered or unpowered watercraft with a blood alcohol limit of .08 percent. Water conservation officers are trained to spot signs of intoxicated and conduct sobriety tests on the water.

Boating under the influence (BUIs) carries fines, loss of boating privileges, and even jail time, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officials said.

“Enhanced BUI enforcement happens every weekend of the year,” said Britcher. “Our officers are highly trained to detect impairment and perform sobriety checks on the water. Unfortunately, statistics prove that some boaters will ignore the law and put themselves and others at risk of injury or even loss of life.”

While not an everyday occurrence, BUIs happen along the Delaware River, which brings together law enforcement from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officials urged boaters to wear life jackets.

A U.S. Coast Guard report found that 11 of 14 boating accident victims in Pennsylvania last year were not wearing life jackets. Nationally, that number was 84 percent.

This year, there have been seven boating-related deaths in Pennsylvania.

“Pertaining to PFDs, Pennsylvania law requires that a U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket is present on the boat for each person aboard. Children ages 12 and under must always wear a life jacket when underway in any boat 20 feet or less in length and in all canoes and kayaks. A life jacket must be properly fitting, in good serviceable condition and used in accordance with activities specified on its label,” Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officials said.