SHORELINES

1 mile. Boats longer than 40 feet must have a power-operated, soundproducing device audible for 1 mile. of trash, garbage or plastics. Boats less than 24 feet in length and more than 50 horsepower or plastics cannot be inadvertently with an open cockpit must have an emergency, lanyard-type shutoff switch. The lanyard must be attached to the operator whenever the boat is underway. Fire extinguishers (U.S. C oast Guard -approved) are required for boats with : •Inboard or inboard/outboard motors. •Enclosed or permanently mounted gas tanks. •Closed or semi-closed cabins or sleeping quarters. •Any other fuel-consuming device such as a lantern or stove. Boats with inboard or inboard / outboard motors are required to have a backfire flame arrestor . Navigation lights are required for boats operating between sunset and sunrise and in low visibility. Flares (3 day, 3 night or 3 combination type ) if boating on coastal waters. Current registr ation certificate and decals. Trash receptacle : A ll vessels including personal watercraft These containers or storage compartments must be placed so that waste, trash blown overboard. Oper ator's license for anyone oper ating the boat. Storms can come up quickly on the water this time of year, so keep an eye to the sky. Watch for changes in temperature and shifts in wind patterns. Also, practice courtesy. Many problems on the water can be solved by observing simple courtesies. To help boaters recognize this, the Marine Police Division is introducing the Watch Your Wake campaign and has posted signs along the waterways, especially around launching ramps and marinas. This campaign is designed were alcohol-related. Remember, the alcohol laws that apply on highways also apply on waterways. If you have alcohol on the boat, make sure to have a designated operator. Warm-weather boating and fishing are activities enjoyed by many people in Alabama, but what starts out as a pleasurable activity can quickly end in ruins if you encounter non-courteous boaters or your safety equipment doesn't work right or is missing when you need it. Taking time now to become an informed, courteous boater will save you a lot of headaches later and allow you to enjoy the beauty of your Alabama waterways. — Sgt. Walter Lacey Education officer Alabama Marine Police to raise awareness and educate the boating public on the adverse impact a wake can create on other boaters and the environment. As a courtesy to other boaters, each operator should make an effort to keep his wake to a minimum, especially in narrow or congested areas. Above all, don't drink and operate a boat. Each year, innocent people are injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents on Alabama's waterways. In must have a container or storage the past five years, almost one-quarter compartment for the proper disposal (23 percent) of all boating deaths Right: Photo by Joe DeSciose — River White cools off in Lake Harris. S hor el i ne s | 2013 Vol:2 11

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