FWC busts boaters under the influence

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News Release

It's that time of year when boaters are hitting the water in large numbers.  They're sharing the water with officers of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). And the FWC is serious about busting boaters under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Since the beginning of the month, FWC officers have made three boating under the influence (BUI) arrests in Palm Beach County alone. In addition, alcohol may have been a contributing factor in a deadly boating accident that occurred last weekend.

In one of the BUI cases, two boats collided in the Loxahatchee River, injuring two people, including a mother holding her toddler son. In another BUI case, a 4-year-old child was onboard a boat but not wearing a personal floatation device, which is a violation of Florida law.

FWC officers recently completed special training to help them identify boaters operating vessels under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

"With Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends around the corner, our waterways will be crowded with boaters," said FWC Major Jeff Hubert. "Our officers are making sure that all boaters have a safe day on the water."