Boating Facts

August 2011

• Mandatory boater education is required for anyone born on or after September 1, 1993 to operate a PWC or motorboat with a motor greater than 15 hp.
• There are more than 600,000 registered boats in Texas, ranking it 6th in the country.
• Texas has more square miles of inland water than any other state.
• Recreational boating safety is a primary area of responsibility of Texas game wardens. The most common water safety citations are issued are for:
  1. Not having enough lifejackets on board the boat.
  2. Children younger than 13 not wearing a life jacket.
• All children younger than age 13 must wear a life jacket while in a boat less than 26 feet in length that is underway.
• Game Wardens and Marine Safety Enforcement Officers enforce the Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) law. A person who either appears to be impaired and/or has a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher while operating a boat can be arrested for BWI.
• A person arrested for BWI may be jailed for up to 180 days, be fined as much as $2,000 or both. Additionally, the person's drivers' license may be automatically suspended.
• Alcohol plays a role in 50 percent of all boating accidents, according to BOAT US.
• Nearly 85% of boating fatality drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket.
• A typical boating accident fatality involves:
  • An open motorboat;
  • Weekends between the hours of Noon and 7 p.m.;
  • The victim falling overboard; and
  • An operator between 26-50 years of age; and