Boating season is fast approaching and now is the time to brush up on boat safety requirements. Below are some requirements you may want to be aware of from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:

• Minnesota State Law requires children under ten years old to wear a properly fitted life jacket while a boat is underway. Underway means not securely fastened to a permanent mooring or tied to a dock.
  • children who are below the top deck or in an enclosed cabin.
  • children aboard passenger vessels being operated by a licensed captain.
  • children on a boat that is anchored for the purpose of swimming or diving.
• Exceptions to this include:
• A readily accessible and wearable life jacket is required for each person onboard a boat, this includes canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, paddleboats and waterfowl boats.
• One Type IV throwable is required on boats sixteen feet or longer (except canoes and kayaks) and must be immediately available.
• Personal watercraft operators and passengers must each wear a life jacket.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shares the following Top 10 rules to respectful boating:

Remember, these are guidelines and should not serve as a replacement for learning the rules, regulations and laws for your local body of water. Whether you’re a novice or veteran boater, learn more by taking a boating safety course.

1. Respect the ramp. Good boating etiquette starts before you enter the water - at the dock. Prepare your boat and equipment before getting into position to launch. Anything else is disrespectful to fellow boaters.
2. Own your wake. The fastest way to make the wrong kinds of waves is to literally throw a big, obtrusive wave at another boat, swimmer, angler or shoreline owner. This is much more than being a nuisance or disrupting others’ experience on the water. It’s dangerous to those unable to tolerate a large wake. Stay at least 200 feet from the shoreline and other boaters.
3. Keep the tunes in check. Sound is amplified over the water, so keep the music at a decent level. Not only is it a disturbance to others but the operator may not hear the spotter.
4. Pack in. Pack out. Seems like common sense, right? Yet shorelines are still lined with trash being thrown overboard. Take care of the body of water you love and dispose of any trash you have. Do not throw it overboard!
5. Slow your roll. Does the body of water you’re on have a speed limit or slow-no-wake restriction? It’s your responsibility to know it and respect it. You are responsible for any damage you cause to other people’s property.
6. Rules of the road. Become familiar with waterway markers and navigation rules, which dictate how you operate your vessel in order to prevent collision.
7. Be prepared. If you are the captain, you need to be prepared with the safety rules for your craft and make your guests aware as well. Know state and local laws for the body of water you’re on. Set a good example by always wearing a life jacket and have enough life jackets for each person onboard. Beyond that, make sure to have the appropriate fit.
8. Fuel and go. At the fuel dock, get fuel, pay your bill and move out of the way. If you need to buy additional supplies, relocate your boat. Don’t forget to run your blower before starting.
9. Anchoring and mooring. Enter an anchorage or mooring area at a slow speed. Don’t create a wake that will disrupt other anchored boats. The first boat sets the tone. Mimic how they tie off, how much line you use and how much distance you allow between you and other boats. The busier the boat, the more space you should give yourself.
10. Be polite – give a wave. When passing another boat, give a little wave hello. Boating is all about having fun and being part of the boating community. Embrace it, enjoy it, and share it for generations to come.

Distracted Driving Enforcement Mobilization 

Distracted driving comes in many forms, but texting and cell phone use while driving has become the most prevalent type of distracted driving.

April 1st kicked off the month-long Distracted Driving Enforcement campaign running through April 30th. 

While taking your eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel present obvious risks, activities that take a driver's mind away from driving are just as risky. They can include daydreaming, putting attention toward something outside of the vehicle, eating, reaching for items, changing music, and dealing with rowdy passengers or kids. Distracted driving is anything that takes your attention away from the road.

Distractions of any kind are all potentially deadly:

• Visual distraction - looking away from the road.
• Physical distraction - taking your hands off the wheel to do something else.
• Cognitive distraction - being lost in thought.
• Using electronic devices combines all of these elements - like texting or snapchatting while driving.

Be part of the solution when it comes to distracted driving. Start by setting a good example for your kids or anyone in the vehicle by parking the phone. And next time you start to do something behind the wheel that isn’t driving, remember how you feel when you see other drivers distracted behind the wheel. Take the steps to put your attention on the road — set your music, put your phones out of reach or follow the hands-free cell phone law, and know your directions. DRIVE SMART, PAY ATTENTION AND PUT THE PHONE DOWN.

Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths Southeast Coordinator Jessica Schleck recently shared the following important information regarding having your vehicle headlights on when it is raining.

Did anyone else notice that many vehicles traveling in last week’s rain didn’t have their headlights on? With more rain on the way this week, it is a good time to remind drivers that the law is simple. If there’s precipitation, even a light drizzle, you need to turn on your vehicle’s headlights, taillights, and marker lights. It helps other drivers see you.

Drivers might assume the sensors will activate all of the vehicle’s lights during reduced visibility, but that is not always the case with precipitation. They do not always turn on automatically, especially during the day. That’s why it’s important to consult your owner’s manual and learn how to turn your lights on manually.

Seeing and being seen can help reduce your chances of getting in a crash. If there’s any kind of precipitation, double-check that all of your vehicle's lights are shining before heading out on the road. Ultimately, it’s one more way to drive smart and keep yourself and others safe on Minnesota roads.

Check out the below section Did You Know for the Minnesota Statute referenced in this article.

• A 66-year-old Owatonna woman was arrested for fourth degree driving while impaired and driving without lights. She provided a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .14.
• A 43-year-old Medford man was arrested for domestic assault (gross misdemeanor), fifth degree assault and malicious punishment of a child (felony).
• A 28-year-old Waterville man was arrested for third degree burglary, theft, first degree damage to property, obstruct the legal process-interfere with a peace officer, tampering with a motor vehicle and burning prohibited materials.