04—The legislation, when it was signed by the governor, was enacted immediately.

So head’s up. Tim Spice manages the boater education program for Parks and Wildlife. Anyone born on or after September 1, 1993, must take boater education, but Game wardens won’t be writing citations for violators right away.

20—Well, right now the game wardens are doing an education process since it is a new law, and they’ll do that for quite a few months just so people who don’t know the law has taken effect have a chance to learn about that. But after that, some of these are like misdemeanors like a traffic ticket. You have to go before a judge and adjudicate the process. And all the fees are different depending on the level of safety violation.

Texas’ state-approved boater education course is available online, or in a one-day class. Find information on the TPW website. Supporters of the law say it will save lives and make crowded waters safer. And one more word on life jackets.

11—Life jackets today are stylish, form fitting; there are some inflatable’s that don’t take up any space—it looks like you’re wearing a fanny pack. So, I’d like to tell people there is no reason not to wear a life jacket when you’re on the water.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

A boom in water recreation and accidents prompted passage of a new state law requiring mandatory boater education.

17—What that means is, if you were born on or after Sept. 1, 1993, you will be required to take boater education to operate a boat or a vessel over 15 HP, and a windblown vessel like a sailboat over 14 feet.

Tim Spice manages the boater education program for Texas Parks and Wildlife. Previously, only 13- to 17-year olds had to complete a boating safety course to operate a vessel, such as personal watercraft, without adult supervision.

18—Now to operate a personal watercraft, if you are under 13 you have to have someone 18 years of age or older on board, and they have to be able to legally operate themselves. Used to be you could go out there with someone under 18 if they were certified. But that’s changed also.

Texas’ state-approved boater education course is available online.

16—You can get on there. Take the class. Take the test. And then receive a temporary certification and you can go right out. We have courses offered by volunteers, employees. We list those courses as they’re offered, so you can come to our website if you prefer having an instructor help you out.

The new mandatory boater education law is currently in effect. Tomorrow: What happens if you’re caught without certification.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

If you’re someone who likes lists, we have one that’s perfect to post on the fridge.

07— That’s right. Our Nobody’s Waterproof campaign says ‘enjoy a great day on the water, and here’re six tips to help you do that.’

Laurie Connally is the Parks and Wildlife boater education specialist for Central Texas. These common sense tips include 1) wear a life jacket, 2) drink responsibly and designate a sober boat driver, 3) obey boating signs and rules, 4) drink plenty of water, 5) keep the proper gear on board, and 6) never boat or swim alone. With respect to the last tip, Connally recommends filing a float plan.

13—it tells the basic information: where you’re going, when you’re leaving, who’s on the boat with you, and what time you expect to be back. And then you leave that with someone so that if for any reason you’re not back, there’s someone saying, ‘Hey, we need to go look for these folks.’

Telling people where you’re going will give them a starting place to look for you if you’re late in returning home. Connally also recommends having a GPS with you—many smart phones come with them. A GPS can help you find your way back in case you get turned around. However, she says the best tip of all:

02—We really encourage them to take a boater safety class.

Find boater safety class information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

And remember: Nobody’s Waterproof…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Boating safety is Laurie Connally’s business.

11— My primary goal and purpose is to educate and train volunteer boater education instructors who can then go out and offer classes and spread the word about boating safety to other individuals.

Connally is the Parks and Wildlife boater education specialist for Central Texas. Because boating is generally a carefree recreational activity she says people will forget to exercise caution.

12—I think a lot of people just don’t understand the responsibilities involved. A lot of the boats have a lot of power, and even if you’re using something like a paddle boat, there are other boaters out there who may or may not be aware of the laws and rules and regulations.

To learn your responsibility when on the water, Connally says nothing beats taking a boater safety class. And she recommends making it a family affair.

11—Mom, dad, children—they’re going home and talking about it. They get to take great materials home with them. And they can compare their stories, and I think it would be a really good opportunity for them to learn together.

When you know the rules and etiquette for spending time on the water, you and everyone around you—even if they’re clueless—will be safer for it.

Six things you should know when you’re on the water—that’s tomorrow.

Remember: Nobody’s Waterproof…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Steve Hall is Education Director at Parks and Wildlife. The good news is Texans are involved in fewer alcohol related boating accidents than the national average.

15—In fact, it’s down around 10% in Texas. But still again, alcohol is involved way too many accidents.

Hall says everyone on a boat needs to keep their alcohol consumption in check.

08—If you’re the operator of the boat, you’re going to have to try and avoid it. Even the passengers should not overindulge, because they’re the proper boat lookouts.

The most common cause of a boating accident is failure to have a proper boat lookout, which is basically the failure to see what’s in front of you—like a stump, a dock, or another boat.

11—It usually happens on clear days. It usually happens on calmer waters. So, we know that those boating accidents could be prevented by having a second person on board that’s avoiding alcohol as well.

That’s our show… We receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Everyone, no matter how long they’ve been boating, benefits from a little extra education.

04—Boater education goes over the basic responsibility of every boater.

Steve Hall is director of Education at Parks and Wildlife. In a boater education class you’ll learn how to equip your vessel with the proper safety equipment and how to file a float plan…but it doesn’t end there.

Next it follows all the navigation aids and procedures on the water and getting underway—and that is familiarization with the rules of the road, they call them. And this is the rules of the waterway.

Boating education is mandatory for those 13 through 17 years of age. But, unfortunately, the age group that’s involved in most boating accident are above that age, and comprise most of the operators in the state of Texas. And so, trying to get more adults to take boater education is a trick, but it would be imperative if we’re going to reduce the accidents even more.

Find boating education courses, including Internet options, at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Website.

That’s our show… We receive support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

[SFX speed boat on water]

Having fun and being safe are not mutually exclusive goals when boating this Fourth of July weekend. In fact, Steve Hall, Education Director at Parks and Wildlife says boating safety is as easy as one-two-three.

And the first one is wear a life jacket. That would prevent 90% of all fatalities in the water, especially those involving boating accidents.

So, when you don’t have stoplights on the water, and you have no breaks and you’re operating a tonnage of a vessel….yeah…you have to take that just as seriously, if not more seriously, than a vehicle on the highways.

Find boating safety information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Website.

That’s our show… We receive support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating in Texas…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

If you’re a seasoned angler, put your skills to good use.

09—We really encourage the avid angler to introduce fishing to at least one new person a year. And there’d be no better time to do that than during National Fishing and Boating Week…

National Fishing and Boating week is now through June 13th, and it’s a project of the non-profit Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, or RBFF. Frank Peterson is president and CEO. He invites anglers who are passionate about sharing the sport with others to join the Anglers’ Legacy Movement.

12—If they go to our website takemefishing.org, they can join the anglers’ legacy movement. We have over 213-thousand ambassadors around the country who have taken a pledge to introduce fishing to someone new.

On average members of the Anglers’ Legacy movement introduce more than three new people to fishing each year.

12—Another interesting stat on our Ambassador program is that over 70% of the people they introduce to the sport are under the age of 18. So they’re helping to ensure the future of angling and boating in this country.

So introduce someone to fishing this week.

05—That would be a great week to just say, hey, I’m going to do something for young people; I’m going to do something for the sport.

Go to www.takemefishing.org for more information about the Anglers’ Legacy Movement. The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series. For Texas parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

We’re on the threshold of summer, which means more Texans will be on the water…and they won’t be alone.

:07—I’m Sgt. Chopan with the police department with the Grand Prairie lake Patrol unit. I’m just wanting to check to make sure you have all your safety equipment on board. You have your life jacket?

Lake Police, like Sgt. Chris Chopan, and Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens will be on the water, too.

:06—Lake patrol is sometimes is good because the public likes to see you, whereas when I’m driving in a car they usually don’t want to see me.

Everyone aboard a boat must wear a life jacket.

:09—Do you take the dog out often? Yeah, we’ve got three of them and they all have life vests. Sometimes, it’s amazing, you know, they’ll put lifejackets on their dogs, but they won’t put lifejackets on their kids.

Even people in the water need to think safety first.

:21—Not safe for you to be here, No good. No bueno. Too many boats. Twenty-four feet of water, no life jacket, inflatable swim ring, and we wonder why we have to come pick them up later. I’m almost tempted to pick him up and get him out of there – what do you think? This is not illegal probably, but it sure is dumb.

You can play it safe on the water this summer and still have a boatload of fun as long as you remember that Nobody’s Waterproof… Visit the Texas parks and Wildlife website for more information about boating safety.

That’s our show for today… we receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

It’s illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; the consequences of doing so can be devastating. Just ask Kay Rock.

:15—At three o’clock in the morning, my husband and I were awakened by a policeman and a chaplain knocking at our front door. As soon as I saw them, I knew it was something bad. And the only question I had was, ‘which child is it?

The boat carrying Kay Rock’s 22 year old daughter was struck from behind. The driver of the other boat had been drinking at a lakeside bar…and in an instant, Debbie Rock’s name joined a growing list of boating fatalities.

:28—And I’m sorry, but this is kind of a hard part. Is that Debbie was not just a number on a court docket; and she was not just a number on the coroner’s report. She was a real, real person. And she had a lot to give. And that is one of the reasons that I want to stress the fact that bad things happen to really great people, and they don’t have to.

The choice is yours. You can play it safe on the water this summer and still have a boatload of fun as long as you remember that Nobody’s Waterproof. Visit the Texas parks and Wildlife website to find more information about boating safety.

That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti