Dear Registered Boater,
If you plan to be out on the water this Labor Day weekend, please take these simple steps to boat safely and responsibly.
Boat Smart. Boat Safe.
More than 6,000 people were cited for boating safety violations in the past year. Follow these 5 tips to boat safe and avoid citations this summer:
- Wear a life jacket
- Avoid alcohol
- Supervise children
- Use the safety switch
- Learn how to swim
These steps are critical in practicing boating safety and ignoring them can lead to unfortunate results. See true stories from people affected by boating or swimming-related accidents.
New Boating Law
Starting September 1, Kali's Law takes effect and Texas boat operators will be required to wear an engine cutoff switch when operating a boat equipped with the switch that's under 26 ft in length and going greater than headway speed. Headway speed is slow, idle speed, or speed only fast enough to maintain steerage on course. See this news release for more information on the new law.
 Make sure that your child's life jacket fits by following these easy steps. Kids under the age of 13 are required to wear a life jacket when onboard vessels under 26 feet.
Did you know?
83% of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket.
Texas law requires a life jacket for every person on board. Don't add to the statistics by visiting Wear it Texas to learn more about the importance of life jackets.
You play an important role in protecting the lakes we love from invasive species. Invasive species like giant salvinia and zebra mussels can ruin fishing, boating, and swimming for everyone. Recently, two more lakes have become infested with zebra mussels. There are still many Texas lakes without invasive species, but boaters can transfer them upstream, to other river basins, or even to other states. What can you do to help? Always clean, drain, and dry your boat, trailer, and gear before traveling from lake to lake.
 Do you store your boat in the water on a lake with zebra mussels? If so, this invasive species has very likely attached to your boat. Before moving your boat to another lake, it must be decontaminated. We urge you to call our 24/7 hotline at (512) 389-4848 for guidance.
Boating Rules & Regulations
Get the most up-to-date boating rules and regulations at your fingertips at OutdoorAnnual.com or with the Texas Outdoor Annual mobile app, available free on iOS and Android.
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