JACKSON, Wyo. — The water is a popular place to be on Independence Day, but the festive mood is exactly what makes safety precautions extra important, officials say.
Wyoming Game and Fish is reminding boaters to stay safe and sober on the water. Game and Fish will patrol Wyoming waterways over the Fourth of July weekend and will issue citations for boating under the influence (BUI).
“Boating impaired can put everyone at risk. It is as deadly as driving under the influence,” said Aaron Kerr, Game and Fish law enforcement coordinator. “At any given moment, there are individuals on the water, on paddleboards, or in other boats who trust boat operators to be alert and in control of their vessel. People’s lives depend on it.”
As part of Operation Dry Water, law enforcement will be on the water informing boaters about safe boating practices and removing impaired operators.
Boaters should also plan to bring the required safety equipment this upcoming holiday:
- A life jacket for each individual on board. Life jackets must be properly-sized, U.S. Coast Guard approved and in good condition. They cannot be waterlogged, torn or have straps broken or missing. Life jackets also need to be readily accessible to the passengers on board. Children 12 years old and under are required to wear a life jacket while the boat is underway unless they are inside an enclosed cabin.
- A minimum of one U.S. Coast Guard-approved throwable flotation device, which includes ring buoys and float cushions, aboard boats 16 feet and longer.
- A proper fire extinguisher on any boat with an inboard engine, permanently installed fuel tank, closed living space, double bottoms that are not sealed to the hull or compartments that store fuel tanks or other combustible materials. Multiple extinguishers may be needed depending on the size of the boat.
- Navigation lights are required when boating from sunset to sunrise. All motorized boats are required to display a red and a green light to represent the port (left) and starboard (right) sides, as well as a white light that is visible 360 degrees when underway. Again, the types of lights required differ based on the size of the boat.
These are all things that are legally required. But there’s more to add to your safety checklist. Boaters should also pack extra layers, food, water, a headlamp, a first aid kit, a throw rope, a whistle, sun protection, and a repair kit. Even seemingly mellow stretches of river can be braided, unpredictable, and dangerous. Boaters should prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Last year, Grand Teton National Park rangers inspected a total of 35 watercraft during the Operation Dry Water weekend. There were 17 warnings issued and 2 voyages were terminated for boating safety violations and lack of required paperwork, including boat registration, Wyoming Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) decal, and Grand Teton National Park boat permit. Most warnings for required safety items were issued to operators that were able to correct the problem by purchasing the items at a nearby store or by correcting the problem and relaunching the vessel. There was one boating under the influence case involving alcohol and/or drugs.
Themes noted from the 2021 operation included overloading number of occupants onboard, lack of compliance concerning required vessel documentation, and failure to use an orange skier down flag while skiers were in the water on Jackson Lake. There were also a number of insufficient PFDs and inadequate fire extinguishers.
Rangers will also perform increased lake and river patrols with the goal of increasing awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths in the United States. It is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol concentration level of .08 or higher
