During the upcoming holiday weekend, United States Coast Guard law enforcement crews will be patrolling, conducting safety checks and watching for mariners boating while intoxicated or operating in a unsafe manner. The boating public is encouraged to watch the weather carefully, to have emergency equipment in good working order and understand the hazards of boating under the influence of alcohol.

Weather conditions can change quickly. The National Weather Service broadcasts marine weather forecasts regularly. Check the boating forecast before you go at http://www.nws.noaa.gov.

Mariners should be aware of the dangers involved mixing drinking and boating. Nearly 30 percent of all recreational boating fatalities can be attributed to alcohol use. Judgment can be impaired by mixing alcohol and boating. The consumption of alcohol also affects the ability of passengers to respond in the case of an emergency on the water.

Intoxicated boaters can face both federal and state charges with penalties of up to one year in prison and up to $100,000 in fines.

Boaters are also reminded to wear their life jackets, file a float plan with a friend or family member and to have a working VHF radio and Emergency Positioning Indicator Radio Beacon (EPIRB) onboard. The EPIRB helps rescuers pinpoint the location of vessels in distress. Only 20 percent of operators and occupants involved in a boating accident wore a life jacket at the time of the accident, while 36 percent reported that they could not swim.

The Coast Guard cautions boaters to observe safety and security zones while on the water during this Labor Day weekend.

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