Full Notification

DATE: Friday, August 30th - Monday, September 2nd, 2019

INCIDENT: Labor Day Marine Enforcement Patrol Operations

SUMMARY:

The Colorado River Station will be conducting Labor Day Marine Enforcement Patrol Operations Friday, August 30th through Monday, September 2nd. Deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department will be involved in enhanced patrol activities near and on the waterways of the Colorado River patrolling by land, water, and air. Deputies will be deployed from the Nevada State line to the Riverside County line and will be monitoring the waterways for operators operating watercraft under the influence and operating watercraft in a reckless manner. Persons stopped operating watercraft under the influence of alcohol and or drugs will be arrested and booked into jail. Deputies will also be closely watching for children under the age of 13 without personal flotation devices (PFD’s) while aboard vessels. The law requires all persons under the age of 13 while on-board a vessel wear a personal flotation device. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department encourages all persons to wear personal flotation devices while on the waterways as it is a proven fact personal flotation devices save lives.

Other violations commonly seen by marine patrol deputies are transom/bow riding and blue light violations. With the increasing popularity of wakeboarding, wake surfing, and tubing, deputies are noticing an increase of people on boats who are transom riding. All persons on board a boat while underway (not moored or at anchor) shall be within the confinements of the vessel so the risk of falling overboard or being struck by a propeller is greatly reduced. The blue light law requires all vessels approaching a law enforcement vessel with activated blue lights to come off plane and pass at a no-wake speed so not to endanger the deputies during the stop and to reduce the chance of damaging boats.

All California boat operators 16-25 years old are required to have in their possession a California Boater Education Card issued by the CA Division of Boating and Waterways. This age increases to 35 years in 2020. For information on obtaining a card go to http://californiaboatercard.com/.

The Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit is, as always, dedicated to providing a safe boating atmosphere for the public and reminds everyone to wear their life vests and to boat sober. For press releases, news and information, follow the Colorado River Station on Twitter at: @CORiverStation

Refer: Travis Vessells, Corporal
Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit
Phone No: (760)326-9200

JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department