Aquapalooza Message From Marine Police

Alabama Marine Police (Lake Martin)
Posted: 7/23/2010

1. The Idle Speed Only buoys marking the large Idle Speed Only area will be going in this afternoon. The zone will will cover from the Highway 63 bridge to just west of Sinclair's and will extend from shoreline to shoreline. We will begin enforcing the Idle Speed Only restriction on Friday and continue it through the early hours of Sunday morning.

2. We will have 24-hour patrol coverage beginning tomorrow and extending through Sunday.

3. The center lane through the mooring lines will be a no-stopping area. We prefer that you don't take your boat into that area at all. We also will not allow you to tie your boat inside the inner-most pole holding the mooring line on each row. Several latecomers did this last year and the center lane became smaller and smaller as the day progressed. We stopped what we could once we realized what was happening and plan to address this early and often this year.

4. Please don't hook up these huge inflatables to your boat and then tow five or six people behind (especially without life jackets on) through the mooring lanes or center lane. Last year early on it was not uncommon to see people on personal watercraft towing these large inflatables with six or seven people on them (most of the time without PFDs) through the lanes. It made passage for others extremely difficult. Aside from that, it was also illegal and dangerous.

5. It's going to be hot so stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water.

6. Registration, licenses, safety equipment, navigation lights. Make sure you have all of these things and they are current and valid or in proper working order.

7. Persons under 21 possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages will be arrested.

8. Designate a sober boat operator.

9. Don't overload your boat.

10. If you are anchored or moored or stop to listen to the music, don't start your engine until you are absolutely certain that no one is in the water behind you.

11. If you swim in and around the boats remember that there are all kinds of objects on a boat under the water's surface that can cut you or injure you severely. The stabilizing fins on the front of pontoon boats can be sharp and cut you as severely as a prop can.

12. We will have extra officers on hand and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will have several crews working. We all will monitor Channel 16 on the marine band radios and as always, you can flag us down if you need assistance. If neither of those options work you can call (256) 234-2601 for our dispatcher or 9-1-1 if it's an emergency.

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