By: Arnold Wyrick
One of the first things they're going to be looking for is the required safety equipment all boats must have if their on the water. "They should have a life-jacket for each person on board. They should be out, so they can get to them in short notice. Children under 13 years of age have to wear their life-jacket at all times when they're on a boat," says Officer Steve Vasicek.
And Officer Vasicek says people can drink alcohol while out on the water, if they are of legal age to do so. But the same rules on the road are the same on the lakes. "The same blood alcohol level is enforced on boat operators as is automobile drivers. But, there is no open container laws as there are for drivers on the roads. We're serious though and there will be no exceptions, you can not be intoxicated if you're planning on driving a boat," Officer Vasicek said.
Keep in mind unlike out on the roadways, where an officer must have probable cause to stop you. The conservation police do not need probable cause to pull you over. "It's part of our work. We have inspection authority. We don't necessarily have to justify why we pulled you over. It can be just for a routine safety inspection, we don't need to have a reason," Officer Vasicek said.