The Labor Day holiday weekend marks the official end of summer for many and that means the waters will be filled with boaters, but it will also be filled with the Miami Beach Marine Patrol that is already out in full force.
The Miami Beach Marine Patrol is one of several agencies that plans to fill the waters with officers looking for anyone who may be breaking the law.
“We have a lot of assets out here,” said Thomas Fleischhauer of the Miami Beach Marine Patrol. “I know Miami Beach has, we have all of our boats out here. A full crew.”
Officer Fleischhauer said law enforcement will be targeting people on the water drinking and driving. Mayor Carlos Gimenez created a multi-agency taskforce to try and help crack down on the illegal activity this weekend.
The BUI taskforce said it will be targeting its efforts on the Biscayne Bay sandbar. The target area for some of the Miami Beach Marine Patrol will be Monument Island.
But it’s not just drunken boaters that will be focused on this weekend. The Miami Beach Marine Patrol said jetski riders are major violators in the beach area.
“Anybody operating a jetski, they need to have three things: They need to have a kill switch, they need to have a working fire extinguisher, and a sound-producing device readily accessible,” Fleischhauer said.
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In addition, people on kayaks and paddle boards must follow the rules. Anyone on a non-motorized vessel must have a life vest and sound-producing device on board. The main message for everyone from law enforcement is be careful when you take to the seas.
“We want people to use caution,” Fleischhauer said. “Go slow.”
