With Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission is pushing to make sure boaters know how to keep their families safe out on the water.
The Jacksonville area has already seen several fatal boating accidents since the temperatures warmed up.
FWC Officer Roland Green said wearing a life jacket can be the difference between a fun day out on the water and a tragedy.
“You might think you’re going out fishing and you’re not that far from the boat ramp. Sometimes accidents do happen unexpected, so it’s always good to wear your life jacket,” said Green. “The St. Johns River is a rough river.”
He said boaters are required to have enough life vests on their boat for everyone who’s on board. Children under the age of 6 are required to wear them while the boat is moving.
Green said boaters are required to keep a fire extinguisher on board.
If your boat is 16 feet or longer, there needs to be a life ring on the boat.
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Unlike some other states, Floridian boaters need to have a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card to drive a boat.
The legal blood alcohol content limit to drive a boat is the same as the limit to drive a car -- 0.08.
It’s a misdemeanor to drive a boat above the legal blood alcohol limit.
With other safety violations, like not having enough life jackets on board, FWC can give you a warning or fine you $90 for each violation.
If you’re going to boat near downtown Jacksonville, Green said to keep an eye out for flashing yellow lights on the bridges.
“When there’s a special event going on, like a concert, football game, these lights here will also be flashing yellow, indicating that this whole area from Main Street Bridge to Hart Bridge is slow speed,” said Green.
You can get a free boat inspection from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Click here to find out how: http://www.safeboatingjax.com/pages/14-8VSC.htm.
Cox Media Group
