In Case You Missed It ...
Jul 3, 2009 2:42 pm US/Central
Local Lake Patrols Ready For Holiday Weekend
By Arezow Doost
GRAPEVINE (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
-
-
Darren McCollester/Getty Images
"Ready to hit the lake. Hope the wind stays up," said Kristen Abernathy.
The Fourth of July weekend is getting underway for many North Texas families at area lakes. And joining the crowds is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Texas game wardens and area police departments.
Water safety is a top priority at Grapevine Lake, especially with water levels being lower than usual. "The Fourth of July weekend is one of the busiest for us," explained Kenneth Myers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "We are going to make sure everyone stays safe in the water."
Army Corps engineers will be patrolling the lake throughout the weekend, making sure that boaters have life jackets, whistles and fire extinguishers. They are also checking for overloaded boats. Citations for not having a life jacket or other safety devices on your boat can run about $100. Those who do not cooperate could be asked to leave the lake.
"We don't have the personnel to, maybe, hit every single person," Myers explained. "But as many as we can, and we try to hit all of them."
"I appreciate that," Abernathy said. "I'm glad they are out there."
"We want people to have fun," continued Myers, "but we want them to go home safe too."
Texas game wardens will also be cracking down on suspected drunk boaters over the holiday. It is a 'no refusal' weekend, a policy which has been a big hit with law enforcement officers to catch drunk drivers. Now, the same idea will be applied to those on the water.
"People drive boats like they drive cars," said boater Don Tolsdorf. "Sometimes, that's crazy."
The 'no refusal' weekend means that anyone who is suspected of being drunk while operating a boat on area lakes will be taken to jail if they refuse to take a blood or alcohol test. "If they refuse our blood test," explained Sgt. Shane Jennings with the Flower Mound Police Department, "we can take a signed search warrant and take it to the hospital and draw blood."
"I think it's a smart idea, with people with boats and alcohol," said boater Tanner Wall.
"I don't have a problem with it at all," said boater Matt Stevens. "We come out and have a good time. We are safe."
Over Memorial Day, game wardens said they had more than a dozen arrests and only one refusal.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
RAW VIDEO: 100-Mile Police Chase
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
