Getting Ready for Boating Season

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) — Vacation season is officially underway now, and that means you can expect to see a lot of people on the lakes and waterways.
It can be a fun and safe summer if you know, and obey, a few rules.
Its best to get to know those rules now—rather than later.

BARRY BAIRD, TWRA, WILDLIFE OFFICER "We are in full enforcement on boating under the influence…we take it really seriously and we’re always out looking for anything like that that’s going on."

The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency is getting ready for a long season on the areas lake and rivers.

It all seems simple enough—just go buy a boat, get to a lake and launch it. How complicated can that be?

DAN HICKS, TWRA "Its amazing every year when we get out on the water the number of people who buy a boat and haven’t bothered to know what the laws are concerning them. As Soon as you hit the water, that boat has to be registered in you name if you’ve bought it."

Yes, there’s paperwork before you head for the lake, and most boaters would do well to get some safety training.

BARRY BAIRD, TWRA "The main safety tip we want to get across is that everybody that’s going to be boating on Tennessee waters..please have all the appropriate safety equipment you’re supposed to have on your boat."

TWRA will be getting some backup support this year from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s office.

SHERIFF JIM HAMMOND , HAMILTON CO. "I’m proud of the training that my guys have just gone through. These are all extra responsibilities that their regular patrol duties..for them to be available if we needed to call them up to do this."

Hamilton county has two watercraft, and now they have nine officers specially trained to work on them.

SGT.MARK WILLIAMS, SUPERVISOR, MARINE & MOTOR FLEET "In the state of Tennessee Wildlife is the ultimate authority on the water. They are allowed to commission other agencies with a commission to help them with a commission to help them enforce the boating safety act."

Obey the rules..and have a great summer on the waterways.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency will be patrolling during Riverbend, assisted by the sheriff’s department boats.