WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Nice weather this Memorial Day Weekend in South Florida has thousands of people heading out on the water. But before you pack your cooler and get on the boat, law enforcement says there’s a few things you should know.
Law enforcement agencies from the Treasure Coast to Boca Raton tell NewsChannel 5 they are stepping up patrols on the water and keeping an eye out for BUI’s (boating under the influence).
They are doing safety checks, pulling boats over to make sure they have the proper safety equipment on board including the correct number of life jackets.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary suggests investing in an EPRIB, although it’s not required to have on board, it can help locate you if you are in distress.
“When you mix alcohol in the sun things can happen. Make sure you keep track of the weather, whether it’s lightning storms or whether it’s a perfect sunny day like this, the sun itself can cause dehydration and can cause you to start decreasing your ability to react to certain situations,” said U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 51 Louis Townsend.
Sea Tow Palm Beach is also out in full force helping boaters in need. They are offering life jackets to boaters who need them and hoping to spread awareness about safety tips in an effort to cut down on boating while intoxicated.
