Whether your plans involve boating or paddling, stay safe and sober

If you plan on heading out on the water over the Labor Day weekend, do so safely and responsibly by wearing a life jacket and designating a sober operator.

“Whether you are boating, kayaking, or paddleboarding, minimizing risk is the name of the game,” said Josh Hoffman, boating safety education coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). “Wearing a life jacket is, by far, the easiest and most effective way to reduce risk when on the water.”

Wearing a life jacket will not only keep you safe, but for passengers 12 years old and younger, it’s also the law. Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are a great way to spend time on our rivers and lakes, but keep in mind they are considered watercraft and users are legally required to have a life jacket on board.

AZGFD officers and other boating safety partners will be stepping up their patrols over the Labor Day weekend and will be on the lookout for reckless operators and people operating a motorized watercraft while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Although the legal limit for operating a boat in Arizona is a .08 blood-alcohol concentration, an operator is in violation of the law and may be prosecuted for operating a watercraft while impaired to the slightest degree by alcohol and/or drugs.

So far in 2025 there have been 6 fatalities on Arizona’s waterways.

“Our top priority is to create a safe environment for everyone who is out enjoying Arizona’s waterways,” said Major Danny Rodriguez, boating law administrator. “If alcohol is being consumed on your boat, always designate a sober operator.”

Get more information about staying safe as well as instruction on trailering your vessel, navigational rules and legal requirements by taking a free boater or paddlesports education course from the AZGFD. Signup online at www.azgfd.com/Education/Boating/.