| "We were beginning to get a lot of complaints of conflicts between personal watercraft and beachgoers." | |
| Capt. Michael Patrick, Alabama Marine Police |
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It's summertime and once again the drone of personal watercraft will be heard across our nation's coastal waters, irritating many swimmers and fishermen trying to enjoy a quiet day at the beach. Alabama managers are keeping tempers down and protecting all water users in one coastal county by instituting emergency regulations that provide places for both swimmers and riders to frolic.
"We were beginning to get a lot of complaints of conflicts between personal watercraft and beachgoers," explains Capt. Michael Patrick, district supervisor for the Alabama Marine Police. "Baldwin County is a resort area, and everybody comes here for the beach. There had been no accidents, but we'd had numerous reports of near misses." Rather than wait for someone to get injured, the state decided to take action.
Every summer for the past three years, the Department of Conservation commissioner, who is "authorized under law to promulgate regulation if it is in the best interest of the public," has issued an emergency regulation that precludes the operation of any watercraft between the first sandbar and the beach above an idle speed, Patrick says.
"While it includes all watercraft," he notes, "it's really impacted personal watercraft. They are the ones, typically, who like to get out there and zoom up and down the beaches and come in conflict with swimmers."
Notice of the regulation is put in the local newspaper, posted at beaches, and distributed to area hotels and businesses. If a rider is ticketed for violating the regulation, they are subject to a minimum $100 fine, plus court costs, which Patrick says make the total fine well over $200. Four Marine Patrol units enforce the regulation in the county.
Patrick says only about a half dozen tickets have been issued, but there have been "tons of warnings" given. "We try to use common sense with enforcement. First-time violators are stopped, the regulation is explained to them, and they are given a warning. If we catch them doing it again, then they are cited. Most folks are simply unaware of the regulation. Once we tell them, they're willing to comply."
While the regulation has kept user conflicts to a minimum in Baldwin County, Patrick says they have been struggling with the same issue in Mobile County where there is no visible first sandbar.
"We have really wrestled with this. Last year, we did a survey to delineate an area in Mobile County because we do anticipate instituting some kind of regulation," he explains. "We would have to put out markers in the water, which is financially prohibitive. A boater has to have some way of knowing the area" that is covered by the regulation. He notes the delineation will have to be decided before state officials, who are considering making the regulation permanent, could receive the necessary legislative approval.
"Personal watercraft are here to stay," Patrick concludes. "They're here to stay, and they're something we're going to have to learn to live with."
For more information about Alabama's watercraft regulations, contact Capt. Michael Patrick at (334) 981-2673.
