Reminder for the week: Wearing life jackets saves lives in boating emergencies

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between April 29-May 5 made 2,584 contacts with anglers, boaters, hunters, and the general public, issuing 40 citations. Officers responded to 63 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community

• On April 30, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, answered questions regarding hunting, fishing and boating, and displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer during the annual Delaware Army National Guard Earth Day Expo at the Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center in New Castle.

• On May 4, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, answered questions regarding hunting, fishing and boating, and displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer during the annual White Clay Creek Fest at White Clay Creek State Park near Newark.

• On May 4, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers provided security at the Grain H2O Orange Crush 5K held on the Michael N. Castle Trail on the C&D Canal Conservation Area near Delaware City.

• On May 5, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed the role of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers, answered questions regarding hunting, fishing and boating, and displayed the Operation Game Theft trailer during the Tri-State Bird Rescue Open House in Newark.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

• On May 3, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested Steven Robertson, 59, of New Castle, for one count each of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended or revoked license on the C&D Canal Conservation Area. Robertson was processed at Troop 9 in Odessa, where he was issued a summons for a mandatory appearance and released.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Fisheries Conservation: No Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number (5), unlicensed fishing (4)*, and possession of undersized striped bass (1).

Boating & Boating Safety: No boating safety certificate (1)* and no boat registration card in possession (1)*.

Public Safety: Possession of marijuana – civil (8)*, passing a stopped school bus (1), and driving under the influence (1)*.

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (13)*, littering on a state wildlife area (1)*, driving with a suspended or revoked license (3), and operating a motor vehicle without proof of insurance (1).

*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to http://de.gov/ogt, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police reminds spring boaters and anglers of the importance of carrying and wearing life jackets when boating on our waterways. In Delaware, life jackets are the law – and the law requires that owners/operators of recreational vessels carry one readily accessible life jacket for each person on board, and that children age 12 and younger wear a life jacket while a vessel is underway on Delaware waters. Life jackets are also required to be worn by all operators and passengers of personal watercraft, commonly known as jet skis.

Accidents on the water can happen much too fast to reach for and put on a stowed life jacket. Many lives have been saved by boaters who did the responsible thing and wore a life jacket. Browse real-life accounts of boaters who have been “Saved by the Jacket” here.

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, including access to the online Delaware Boating Handbook, please click Delaware Boating Safety, or contact the Office of Boating Safety & Education at 302-739-9915.

Media contact: Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, 302-382-7167, or Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

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