By TNHUNTING.COM
TnHunting.Com Staff

The busiest time of the boating season is upon us, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is urging safe boating for anglers and pleasure boaters who are going to be on Tennessee's waters this Fourth of July holiday season.

The July 4th holiday sees more boating activity on Tennessee's waters than any other time of the year. This year, the holiday "season" will generally begin on Saturday, July 1, and continue through Tuesday, July 4.

In addition to normal safety precautions, TWRA reminds boaters of a new state law going into effect on Saturday, which reduces the level of blood alcohol content to be considered illegally intoxicated from .10 percent to .08 percent.

The TWRA stated in a news release that detecting and apprehending boaters who are boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be its top priority this holiday. Alcohol affects persons three times faster on the water than on land, due to stressors such as sun glare, heat, vibration and wave action. The agency rurges boaters to choose a designated skipper if they plan to drink alcoholic beverages.

The TWRA also offers safety pointers to help boaters keep their family safe on the water:

• Wear your life jacket.

• If born after January 1, 1989, and operating a boat alone, you must have the TWRA-issued Boating Education Certificate onboard.

• Children 12 years old and younger must always wear a life jacket in a boat that is underway. Drifting is considered underway.

• There must be a U.S. Coast Guard-approved and wearable life jacket on the boat for every person on board.

• There must be a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type IV throwable device (cushion or ring buoy) on board if the boat is 16 feet long or longer.

• A U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type B fire extinguisher is required on personal watercraft and all boats with inboard engines, closed compartments, closed living spaces, or permanently installed fuel tanks.

• Make sure the boat lights work, before it gets dark. It's a good idea to carry extra fuses and bulbs.

• Personal watercraft (jet skis) cannot be operated between sunset and sunrise.

• Everyone onboard a personal watercraft must wear a life jacket. Be aware of other boaters around you. Stay alert, keep a sharp lookout at all times, and remember: Boat safe; Boat fun.

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