Full Notification

DATE/TIME: September 1st - September 4th, 2023

INCIDENT: Labor Day Holiday Weekend

LOCATION: Colorado River and Lake Havasu


SUMMARY: The Colorado River Station will be conducting Labor Day Marine Enforcement Patrol Operations Friday September 1st, through Monday September 4th, 2023. Deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department will be involved in enhanced patrol activities near and on the waterways of the Colorado River patrolling by land, water, and air. Deputies will be deployed from the Nevada State line to the Riverside County line and will be monitoring the waterway for boaters operating watercraft under the influence or in a reckless manner. Persons stopped for operating watercraft under the influence of alcohol and or drugs will be arrested and booked into jail. Deputies will also be closely watching for children under the age of 13 without personal floatation devices (PFD’s) while aboard vessels. The law requires all persons under the age of 13, while onboard a vessel, to wear a personal floatation device. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department encourages all persons to wear personal floatation devices while on the waterways, as it is a proven fact personal floatation devices save lives. 

Other violations commonly seen by marine patrol deputies are transom/bow riding and blue light violations. With the increasing popularity of wake boarding, wake surfing, and tubing, deputies are noticing an increase of people on vessels who are transom riding. All persons on board a vessel while underway (not moored or at anchor) shall be within the confines of the vessel so the risk of falling overboard or being struck by a propeller is greatly reduced. The blue light law requires all vessels approaching a law enforcement vessel with activated blue lights to come off plane and pass at a no wake speed as to not endanger the deputies and boaters during the stop, and to reduce the chance of damaging vessels.  

Deputies will be conducting carriage equipment inspections of all vessels stopped for violations. These Carriage requirements include, a type IV throwable PFD immediately available, enough PFD’s for every person on board the vessel readily accessible, a serviceable fire extinguisher, and a sounding device. 

All California vessel operators ages 16-50 years old are required to have in their possession a California Boater Education Card issued by the CA Division of Boating and Waterways. This age increases to 60 years old in 2024. For information on obtaining a card go to http://californiaboatercard.com/.
 
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is dedicated to providing a safe boating atmosphere for the public and urges everyone to boat sober and wear their life jackets. For more information regarding safe boating practices, visit the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways web site at www.dbw.ca.gov. For press releases, news and information, follow the Colorado River Station on Twitter at: @CORiverStation, and/or Facebook and Instagram @SBCSDColoradoRiverStation.

Refer: Corporal E. Blackard or Deputy W. Poe

Station: Colorado River Station

Phone No. (760) 326-9200

SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department