More than 1,000 boats took to New Milford's Candlewood Lake Friday, and authorities are reminding residents to stay safe on the water this holiday weekend.
Sgt. Keith Williams has been with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Environment and Conservation Police for seven years. He patrols the water each day during the busy season that starts in April and ends in October.
"A lot of the things we see as far as the violations are speeding within 100-200 feet of shoreline between a vessel or a jetski," Williams said. "A lot of people don’t really pay attention to that when they go through the class."
Even though boat operators receive training, much of it gets forgotten over many years.
WIlliams says people need to remember basics on the water like not operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol, make sure there is an observer watching someone behind a boat who is water skiing or on a raft, make sure everyone in the boat has a life preserver and assure that all children are wearing them.
"A lot of them are just unaware of them because they just don’t follow up on them and they’re out here just trying to enjoy themselves and maybe they’re in violation of one of the boating violations. It does happen a lot," Williams said.
