Alabama Law Enforcement Agency urging boater safety over 4th of July

NORTHPORT, Ala. ( WIAT ) — The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said thousands of boaters are expected to spend time on the water over the Fourth of July holiday week.

CBS 42 went on a boat ride Friday morning with ALEA marine officers on Lake Tuscaloosa. ALEA Cpl. Freddie Ingram is urging boaters to operate boats safely. Ingram is estimating there will be 500 boats per day during the holiday weekend.

“We try to educate the public to check everything on their boat and make sure they check all their safety equipment to make sure it’s up to date,” Ingram said. “Make sure they know all the boating laws and rules. So we want everyone to be educated, so we can save as many lives as possible while out here on the weekends.”

The ALEA said it is cracking down in 2024, patrolling the lake in full force. The agency said boaters must wear life jackets and can’t drink alcohol. The ALEA noted its troopers will not tolerate reckless driving. Boater Ray Englebert said he is glad law enforcement will be on the water making sure people are safe.

“You don’t want to cause any trouble for the police, and they are out here doing their job,” Englebert said. “So just make sure you follow all the rules, wear a life jacket, wearing all the proper equipment to make sure your boat is set up right, and you have a safe capacity on your boat and all the things you need in case something happens.”

Ingram said the ALEA investigated one water-related fatality over Memorial Day weekend. He said he hopes boaters will be safe over the Fourth of July, so nobody gets hurt.

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