Bonnie Mckenna


	“Good morning,” Officer Steve Wiggins calls out, to a group of boaters, as the Houston Police Lake Patrol (HPLP) boat comes along side. “We’d like to do a safety check on your boats”. Heads turn toward Officer Wiggins as he informs the boaters what he wants. “I want to see life jackets for everyone on board, a horn or whistle, a type IV seat cushion (personal floatation device), a fire extinguisher and your boat registration.” This is the routine check, performed many times during the day, as the lake police monitor the safety of boats on Lake Houston. “For the most part, everyone out on the lake is in compliance, they know the rules. On occasion you get a ‘gut-feeling’ about a boat and sure enough, we find something that is not right,” said Wiggins. Lake Houston is designated, by the city, as a park. The police are on the lake for safety and security of everyone utilizing the lake for recreation.

“Good morning,” Officer Steve Wiggins calls out, to a group of boaters, as the Houston Police Lake Patrol (HPLP) boat comes along side. “We’d like to do a safety check on your boats”. Heads turn toward Officer Wiggins as he informs the boaters what he wants. “I want to see life jackets for everyone on board, a horn or whistle, a type IV seat cushion (personal floatation device), a fire extinguisher and your boat registration.”

This is the routine check, performed many times during the day, as the lake police monitor the safety of boats on Lake Houston. “For the most part, everyone out on the lake is in compliance, they know the rules. On occasion you get a ‘gut-feeling’ about a boat and sure enough, we find something that is not right,” said Wiggins. Lake Houston is designated, by the city, as a park. The police are on the lake for safety and security of everyone utilizing the lake for recreation.

“We do not want to have boating accidents or anyone drown. We do not want people fearing us; we want people to respect us for their safety. We do boat checks not only to make sure all the equipment is on board and functional, but to remind people they need to know where their safety equipment is located. We do not want people to panic in an emergency,” adds Officer Jason MacAllister. When the boating season begins the police give out a lot of verbal warnings to boaters and Jet Skiers for lack of safety equipment and for not following the ‘rules of the road.’ According to the police the most frequent complaint is against Jet Skiers. Jet Ski operators, when out on the water, are required to stay 50 feet from other boats and the beaches. Boats and jet-skis must carry a minimum of safety equipment. These regulations are the U.S. Coast Guard Inland Waterway Rules. Jet-skis are required to have a whistle or horn, fire extinguisher, life jacket, cut-off lanyard (if delivered from the manufacturer) and a registration card. Boats over 16-feet in length are required to have a whistle or horn, fire extinguisher, life jackets for each person on board, a type IV personal flotation device and a registration card. Boats that are less than 16-feet in length are required to have a whistle or horn, fire extinguisher, life jackets for each person on board and a registration card.