From Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife
The crowded conditions common on this holiday make observance of simple boating safety procedures vital to a safe weekend for everyone.
"We will have an enhanced law enforcement presence on the water during the week prior and over the crowded Labor Day holiday weekend," said Col. Eric Gibson, director of law enforcement for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "We will have officers conducting compliance and safety checks on boaters across Ketucky."
The law requires each passenger in a vessel have a personal floatation device, commonly called a life jacket, readily accessible. "They are not readily accessible if they are shoved up under the front deck or console where you cannot get to them in an emergency," said Maj. Shane Carrier, assistant director of law enforcement for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Heat is a major factor that deters boaters from wearing their personal floatation device. "Inflatable personal floatation devices really help with heat," Carrier said. "They are not as cumbersome and more conducive for wearing all of the time. They also do not restrict movement like other lifejackets."
Avoiding alcoholic drinks is one of the smartest safety decisions boaters can make. "Drinking in public is against the law in Kentucky and our waterways are public places," Carrier said.
Obey simple safeguards and make the Labor Day weekend memorable for the right reasons. This message from the KY Dept of Fish and Wildlife.