Marine law enforcement agencies push life jackets

A number of law enforcement agencies in Bay County are joining together to encourage boaters to wear their life jackets this summer.

The group is the Bay County Marine Law Enforcement Alliance and includes the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Bay County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida Park Police, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Panama City and Panama City Beach.

The alliance also wants snorkelers, divers and boaters to remember to use and obey the dive-flag rule.

FWC Capt. Ken Parramore, who heads the group, said its members are pushing the 'Wear It Florida' life jacket campaign to make boating the safest recreational pursuit possible.  To do that, he said, boaters on smaller vessels ' those under 26 feet in length ' should always put on a life jacket when their vessel is moving.

Florida law requires that children under 6 wear a life jacket when their vessel is under way.

'We know that, statistically speaking, not only in Florida but across the country, the vast majority of boaters who become fatalities would have survived had they worn a life jacket,' Parramore said.  'This is a lifestyle choice and not like seat belts. We're asking boaters to do the right thing and wear a life jacket.'

There's an especially sweet enticement for kids and youth spotted by Law Enforcement Alliance members this summer wearing their life jackets.  They'll be given a card redeemable for a Junior Frosty at any of the six Wendy's restaurants in Bay County.

In Bay County and elsewhere in the Panhandle, snorkelers and divers are reminded that they must use a dive flag.  Dive flags are used to keep the people who are in the water and boaters a respectable distance apart.

That's especially important with the July 1 - Sept. 10 scallop season at hand.

The divers-down flag is red with a white diagonal stripe.  It must be at least 20 by 24 inches if displayed on a boat; at least 12 by 12 inches if towed on a float by the diver or snorkeler.

In open waters, vessels must make an effort to stay 300 feet from a divers-down flag.  In a river, channel or inlet the distance is 100 feet.  Vessels may operate within those distances, but at idle speed.