May 26, 2011
It’s never safe or legal to boat while under the influence of alcohol, but boaters around Houston, Texas, should be especially careful with their alcohol intake this Memorial Day weekend, as The Houston Police Department says it will have extra patrol on the water.
The HPD says its officers will make contact with as many boaters as possible to check to see if skippers have been drinking. They’ll also be looking for equipment and operational violations.
Here are some HPD-provided boating guidelines to keep you and your passengers safe and within the law this weekend and every weekend:
- Have enough personal floatation devices for everyone on board, and wear them.
- Children under 13 years of age must wear a personal floatation device at all times when the boat is moving.
- If you are going to drink, don’t drive. Have a designated skipper for the boat.
- Personal watercraft need to obey the 50-foot rule and slow down to headway speed anytime they are within 50 feet of an object.
- Watch out for other boaters and slow down.
Have you or someone you know been injured in a Texas boat accident? The Texas accident lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law may be able to help.
