An intoxicated boater sits on the 16-foot vessel while a Coast Guard Station Islamorada 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boatcrew, along with FWC agents arrived on scene with the vessel Saturday August, 24, 2019 to conduct a field sobriety test. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
MIAMI — The Coast Guard, along with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, responded to unsafe boating practices Saturday and Sunday.
Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders received a notification Saturday from Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet personnel reporting two vessel voyages were terminated in the vicinity of Jupiter Inlet for not having fire extinguishers on board.
A Station Lake Worth Inlet 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement boatcrew safely escorted a 22-foot pleasure craft and an 18-foot pleasure craft to the Burt Reynolds Ramp after the violations were cited.
In a separate event Sunday, Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders received a notification from a good Samaritan reporting that a vessel collided with mangroves in the vicinity of Founders Park.
A Coast Guard Station Islamorada 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement boatcrew, along with FWC agents, arrived on scene to conduct a field sobriety test of the 16-foot vessel operator.
FWC agents arrested the vessel operator after positive results for operating under the influence and safely transferred the operator to Founders Park were FWC agents awaited.
“The Coast Guard reminds boaters of the dangers of boating under the influence. In addition to decreasing the operator’s ability to make sound judgments, the consumption of alcohol also negatively affects the ability of passengers to respond in the case of an emergency on the water,” said Chief Petty Officer Emerio Labori Sector Miami command center watchstander. “Boaters are encouraged to always wear their life jackets, file a float plan with a friend or family member, have fire extinguishers on board and carry a working VHF-FM radio and an Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon.”
