The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) had a clear mission over Memorial Day weekend: to ensure the safety of boaters. This holiday weekend, often viewed as the informal commencement of summer, is among the busiest boating days of the year.
FWC officers collaborated with other law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety, promoting boating safety messages before the weekend and actively monitoring for careless or impaired vessel operators.
Throughout May 27-29, FWC officers eliminated roughly 100 hazardous and intoxicated vessel operators from Florida waters for boating under the influence and addressed over 30 boating accidents. Impressively, there were no fatalities reported during this period.
Lt. Col. Brian Smith, Acting Director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement, stated, “I attribute the absence of fatalities to our officers and partnering agencies’ high visibility, persistent public education efforts, timely removal of impaired boaters, and quick response to accidents. My utmost desire is to report zero fatalities every year.” He added, “Florida is renowned as the world’s boating and fishing capital. Operating a boat while under the influence endangers not only yourself and passengers, but also everyone else seeking to enjoy a fantastic weekend on the water.”
Over the busy holiday weekend, FWC officers were steadfast in enforcing boating safety. Across the state, they handed out over 4,000 warnings and almost 900 tickets for boating violations. They also responded to over 40 emergency calls for aid and search and rescue missions.
FWC encourages all boaters to enjoy their time with loved ones but to do so responsibly and to always appoint a sober operator before setting sail.
For additional details about boating safety, please go to MyFWC.com/Boating, click on “Boater Education,” and then select “Boating Safety.”
The public can report unsafe boating activities by texting anonymous tips to Tip411 (847411) using the keyword “FWC,” followed by the location and any details about the infraction. Alternatively, they can call 888-404-FWCC (3922). There is also an easy-to-download iPhone or Android app: “FWC Wildlife Alert.”