Boaters See Increased Law Enforcement Presence For Labor Day
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Boaters who are not following the rules of the water could see law enforcement pulling up to the bows of their boats.
South Florida law enforcement is out in full force this Labor Day weekend.
Boating under the influence (BUI) checkpoints, involving 10 agencies, have been set up in an attempt to cut down the number of boating accidents.
Several people were given field sobriety tests at the command post. Three were were arrested, accused of operating a boat under the influence.
Marine units from every Miami-Dade coastal city along with the Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) saturated the popular boating areas.
While they will search for BUI violators, they will also look for safety violations such as speeding.
One man was arrested after police say he took part in a fight on a sand-bar known as Nixon Beach in Biscayne Bay.
"It was a lot of people, about 20 people, actually fighting in the water," said Lizette Campos. "It was kind of scary."
Campos was boating with her children. She says police quickly stepped in.
"It could be a disaster, to be honest with you," said Campos. "I think (I) felt safe. I think the police was ready."
"These big parties on the flats with DJs. It's just now something we deal with on a weekly basis, rather than three or four times a year," said Key Biscayne Police Chief Charles Press. "We discussed sharing resources at least once a month and trying to go out there and really put an end to some of the real chaos that can happen on our waters."
Sunday's enforcement continued into the night, officials said.
"I thought it was a very good idea, especially on the long weekend, they are not considerate and they don't think of what they do out here," said boater Diana Manso.
Manso believes the sight of the extra police on the water gives her reassurance.
Police hope to prevent accidents on the water.
In May, 23-year-old Ernesto Hernandez was caught in a propeller of a boat in Nixon Beach.
The boat was operated by local radio personality, DJ Laz.
On Fourth of July, four young people died after the boat they were in crashed into a second boat, sending various people into the water.
"What we're trying to do here is show the boating community that if you're going to do it, do it safe and do it responsibly," added Chief Press.
Press said he hopes the task force can patrol once in a month, not just on big holiday weekends.
READ: BUI Crackdown Over Labor Day Weekend
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