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TPWD News Release — Aug. 1, 2005

Reminder: Important Boating Facts

Extra! Read All Aboat It!

• 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

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