The office of Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer announced last Friday that recreational boating is in fact allowed under the statewide stay-at-home order. Earlier that day, a state police lieutenant inaccurately said that launching watercraft was banded under the governor’s edict.
Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw told The Detroit News on Friday that the governor’s March 24 “Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives” order prohibited recreational use of the state’s waterways. Hours later, John Pepin, a spokesman with the state department of natural resources, clarified that boating is allowed under the governor’s order.
On Friday, the governor’s office updated the State of Michigan website’s frequently asked questions associated with the executive order. “Boating falls within the outdoor activities permitted under the order,” the website says.