KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |State, feds: Keep safety in mind on boats
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Associated Press - September 5, 2009 8:24 PM ET
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Officials hope three boating laws that took effect this year will help reduce the number of boating wrecks and drownings.
At least 25 people have drowned in Louisiana waterways this year. They included 17 boaters; 11 were in crashes; four drowned after boats overturned or sank.
1 of the new laws requires all children younger than 17 to wear a life jacket while on boats up to 26 feet long.
Another requires everyone to wear life jackets on boats up to 16 feet long that have tiller motors of more than 10 horsepower.
The third lets a judge revoke or suspend the privilege of driving a boat if someone is convicted of doing so while intoxicated.
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