TWRA Urging Boating Safety

The Labor Day Holiday weekend begins tonight at 5pm as people exit work and head into the final official weekend of summer. TWRA officials are urging those who will be boating this weekend to do so safely. The TWRA says that boating deaths this year have already surpassed those for all of 2021. 22 deaths were reported in 2021 and 24 deaths have already been reported in 2022. However, this year is not as deadly on Tennessee waters as 2020 was…there were over 30 boating deaths in 2020. The TWRA says while it is legal to drink alcoholic beverages on the water, the driver of the boat has to remain sober. The penalties for boating under the influence are now the same as driving under the influence. The TWRA is also encouraging boaters to wear their life jackets this weekend. TWRA officers will be in full force patrolling Tennessee’s waterways during the holiday weekend.