Extra patrols taking place to crack down on speeding, wreckless boating around Pine Knoll Shores

PINE KNOLL SHORES, N.C. (WNCT) — Police in Pine Knoll Shores are working to make the water a safer place after concerns from the community at a recent town board meeting.

Some of those issues include boaters speeding and being wreckless in the canal. PKS Police Chief Ryan Thompson rode along with an N.C. Wildlife Officer patrolling the sound and canal recently.

N.C. Marine Patrol Col. Carter Witten said the police also reached out for their help. “We’re providing extra patrols in and out of there at different times of the day and night in conjunction when our officers are out working the area already,” Col. Witten said.

In a Facebook post, PKS police said they had requested additional patrols from N.C. Wildlife, Marine Fisheries and the U.S. Coast Guard. They said some things considered as wreckless boating include jumping wakes within 100 feet of another boat, driving in a way that makes dangerous wake conditions and driving in marked off or swimming areas.

Col. Witten said the best thing people can do to protect their waterways is to be vigilant. “Just be adherent and knowledgeable of the people around you, the other vessels around you and what’s going on,” he said. “If it’s a no wakes, wait to be out of no wakes, don’t be up on plane. Those are the biggest things.”

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