Reminder: Important Boating Facts
Aug. 1, 2005
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- There are approximately 621,000 registered boats in Texas, ranking it fifth in the country.
- Texas has more square miles of inland water than any other state.
- Recreational boating safety is a primary area of responsibility for Texas game wardens. The most common water safety citations are issued for: (1) Not having enough lifejackets on board the boat. (2) Children younger than 13 not wearing a life jacket.
- All children younger than age 13 must wear a life jacket while in a boat underway.
- Game Wardens enforce the Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) law. A person who either appears to be impaired and/or has a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher while operating a boat can be arrested for BWI.
- A person arrested for BWI may be jailed for up to 180 days, be fined as much as $2,000 or both. Additionally, the person’s drivers’ license may be suspended.
- Alcohol plays a role in 50 percent of all boating accidents, according to BOAT US.
- Nearly 85 percent of boating fatality victims were not wearing a life jacket.
- A typical boating accident fatality involves:
- An open motorboat;
- Weekends between the hours of Noon and 7 p.m.;
- The victim falling overboard; and
- An operator between 26-50 years of age
Calendar Year | Accidents | Injuries | Fatalities | BWIs |
---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | 258 | 222 | 69 | 164 |
1998 | 252 | 187 | 53 | 185 |
1999 | 262 | 186 | 51 | 154 |
2000 | 257 | 173 | 55 | 217 |
2001 | 242 | 191 | 41 | 216 |
2002 | 249 | 153 | 61 | 190 |
2003 | 264 | 175 | 39 | 193 |
2004 | 209 | 155 | 35 | 279 |