By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - The Fourth of July holiday is one of the busiest boating times of the year, which means a greater opportunity for accidents.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency boating officers are out in force to make sure everyone is safe.
"We have several patrols scheduled through the firework shows and across the lake to assure boaters being safe out there in the water," said TWRA Officer Jeff Roberson.
He says he'll keep a close eye on how people are acting. "They may be running without lights or they may have a child without a life jacket, something that's out of the ordinary," he said.
Roberson says to help cut back on potential accidents, they're asking boaters to take precautions before getting on the water.
"Some of the things they can remember before they even launch, check your boat, make sure all your safety equipment is there and is ready to go," said Roberson, "Life jackets for each person on board, a fire extinguisher is good, and charged navigational lights are operational, batteries are charged."
Boaters on Fort Loudoun lake say safety is important to them. "We make sure everyone's got a life jacket, and on the Tennessee River you got to watch out for logs," Ron Cunningham said.
One thing TWRA officers will be on the look out for is boaters who've had too much to drink. "We want everyone to have fun and be safe," Roberson said. "If you do have alcohol on the water, please have a designated driver."
TWRA officers just completed "Operation Dry Water," a week before the 4th of July holiday. They made 19 boating under the influence arrests across the state during that campaign.
TWRA boating officers are out in force.
