Texas Law Alert: Summer 2007

BOATING SAFETY CHECKLIST

* Make certain you know how to safely operate the watercraft you are piloting. Consider taking a boating safety class.

* Make sure that your watercraft is well cared for and in good mechanical shape before taking it out on the water.

* Always wear a life jacket, and remember that children under the age of 13 are required to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while underway.

* Carry extra flotation devices in case you need to perform a water rescue.

* Follow the same rules that you would while driving your car: Operate the watercraft at a safe speed, do not overload it, and do not use alcohol. Boating while intoxicated is a crime that is treated in much the same way as driving while intoxicated, and it carries similar penalties.

* Keep a sharp lookout for submerged objects, other boaters, and, especially, personal watercraft such as jet skis.