Miami

Officials Urge Boat Safety Columbus Day Weekend

The U.S. Coast Guard joined several other law agencies Thursday to urge boating safety Columbus Day weekend.

Authorities will be out on the water in full force for the popular weekend for boaters. They're enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for dangerous boating, boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and excessive noise.

Several new ordinances will help protect boaters this weekend. A new rafting ordinance in Miami-Dade requires that no more than five vessels may be rafted together, and that each cluster of boats must be 30 feet apart from other clusters.

Navigational speed limits have been reduced to 15 knots in the Intracoastal Waterway from Rickenbacker Causeway to Elliott Key.

There will also be regular safety inspections and checks for boating under the influence.

Boaters face a fine of $5,000 for violating any of these rules.

"Every police department with marine resources this weekend will be committed to ensuring that we get through this time safely, that we provide safe access for those who want to enjoy the weekend, and that we ensure that those who don't want to do it the right way will not be hurting anybody else," said Chief Charles Press of Key Biscayne Police.

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