National Safe Boating Week

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National Safe Boating Week

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Posted: 1:22 PM May 20, 2008
Last Updated: 1:31 PM May 20, 2008
Reporter: Anna Baxter
Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com

4 comments

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ST. ALBANS, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Nobody wants to spend Memorial Day weekend in jail, or in the hospital.

That's why several coast guard officers are out this week educating people about boating safety.

They say it's important to have life jackets that are in good condition for everyone on board.

The Coast Guard also wants to make sure everyone knows that anyone operating a boat while intoxicated can be charged just like they would if driving a car.

Nationwide, each year about 700 people die in boating-related accidents.

Eight out of 10 victims were not wearing a life jacket.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Madder'n'hell on May 21, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Charlie is on the money. Seems like every where you turn theres someone wearing a badge in your face. I got a ticket last summer on my boat for an expired sticker...the fine listed for an expired registration is $20 , before I was done paying out the nose, it cost me $369, how is that fair at all? Sounded kind of steep to me, but what can we do? You DNR boys and coast guard can keep your damn river,it's just one more place to suck our wallets dry from. I reccommend everyone show up at the local DNR office and turn your boats in, along with your fishing gear,minnow traps and lanterns, as the Ohio River is now under seige. How's that for freedom?

Posted by: gary on May 20, 2008 at 07:48 PM
I AGREE WITH CHARLIE,,,,LAST SUMMER I WAS PUTTING MY BOAT IN RIVER NEAR CATLETTSBURG AND THERE WAS ABOUT THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT BOATS FLOATING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER JUST TALKING,,,THEY WASNT TOO FAR DOWN FROM WHERE I WENT IN,,I SAW THEM DOWN THERE BUT I HAD JUST GOT OF WORK AND WAS GOING CATFISHING AND I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST CREEP RIGHT ON BYE THEM,,I EVEN WAIVED AT THEM,,I HAD NOTHING TOO HIDE,,,BUT SURE ENOUGH THEY WHISELED AT ME TO COME OVER TO THEM,,,THEY LOOKED AT EVERYTHING AND TOLD ME TO GO ON,,,,LIKE IF I WAS HIDEING SOMETHING WHY WOULD I PUT MY BOAT ON IN THE WATER AND GO RIGHT PAST THEM,,AND I WAS GOING SLOW,,,AND WAVED AT THEM,,,,,SO YEH I THOUGHT THAT WAS A LITTLE MUCH

Posted by: Sue on May 20, 2008 at 07:31 PM
Well, I don't blame the police for pushing the laws on the rivers. If you remember, a 15 year old girl from my home town was killed last year on a jet ski. Her mother was not making her do the correct thing and look what happened. If you don't follow the rules then why should the police be the one to have to drag you out of the water. To many people are drinking on the water, just like drinking and driving a car.

Posted by: Charlie on May 20, 2008 at 02:28 PM
That's right, that's exactly why everyone has stopped going to the river. A lot of us grew up with every summer spent on the river it was a great place to take your family & relax after a long week but now no one can enjoy what we enjoyed for years because of harassment. Have fun gentleman you are the only one's out there. Just look around the boat ramps in Ironton & Ashland,Greenup & there is no cars,trucks or trailers. Used to be you couldn't hardly find a parking space. Oh well just another one of our freedoms gone for the good of a few.

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