Reminder: Important Boating Facts

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  • There are approximately 621,000 registered boats in Texas, ranking it fifth in the country.
  • Texas has more square miles of inland water than any other state.
  • Recreational boating safety is a primary area of responsibility for Texas game wardens. The most common water safety citations are issued 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 underway.
  • Game Wardens enforce the Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) law. A person who either appears to be impaired and/or has a blood alcohol level of .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 suspended.
  • Alcohol plays a role in 50 percent of all boating accidents, according to BOAT US.
  • Nearly 85 percent of boating fatality 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
Texas Boating-Related Statistics on Public Waterways (does NOT include non-boating related drownings)
Calendar YearAccidentsInjuriesFatalitiesBWIs
199725822269164
199825218753185
199926218651154
200025717355217
200124219141216
200224915361190
200326417539193
200420915535279