Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Before you set foot on a boat this summer, learn the “rules of the road.”

We teach classes. They’re available online. They’re available in person.

Brandi Bradford, state boater education coordinator, says boater education information is even available as a home study course.

It’s required for those aged thirteen to seventeen, but we recommend it for any new boater—or even if you’ve been doing it for twenty years. There’s always something new out there.

With 500-thousand registered boaters in Texas, everyone who spends time on the water benefits when boaters know the rules.

We talk about rules of the road. Which way do you turn if somebody is coming right at you? Do you go right or left? The answer is go right. You might not have known that, and the other person might not know it, is the bigger deal. We teach you about how alcohol affects you on the water; it actually affects you three times more than it does on land. So, one beer on the water equals three on the land. We teach you about proper lighting to use on your boat, proper safety equipment to have on your boat…. And just what to expect when you’re out there.

One piece of safety equipment everyone should keep close is a personal flotation device. We’ll have more on that tomorrow.

That’s our show…we receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…reminding you that June first through eighth is National Fishing and Boating week…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Country Music Star, Kevin Fowler, served as spokesperson for the Nobody’s Waterproof boating safety campaign this summer. And Sunday, the “Wildman” makes an appearance at Parks and Wildlife Expo.

We’re delighted to have Country star, Kevin Fowler, at the Expo this year.

Expo Director, Ernie Gammage.

Well, the reason that Kevin was chosen and agreed to become the spokesperson for Nobody’s Waterproof is that this is a message that needs to reach that younger demographic; folks that are really out partying hardy on the water. And those tend to be his fans, too.

And Kevin Fowler is also among Parks and Wildlife’s demographic.

Kevin is an avid outdoorsman; he hunts, he fishes, he boats, and he’ll be at Expo on Sunday afternoon from eleven to one, signing autographs, talking to his fans. And, he’s got a great new poster featuring him and the Nobody’s Waterproof tag, and you can leave Expo with an autographed one.

Find links to Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, and see the Kevin Fowler poster online at passpottotexas.org.

Bring the family, but leave your doggies at home.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

It continues to amaze boating safety educator, Jack Dyess that so many people who boat in Texas think they know the state’s boating laws.

When they are stopped by a water safety enforcement officer for some violation, their first response is “I didn’t know that.” That’s probably true; they didn’t know that…because they don’t know the boating laws.

Dyess says people think that just because they have a license to drive a car, they know everything there is to know about driving a boat.

It’s ridiculous to think that if you know the automobile laws you also know the boating laws…you can’t obey laws that you don’t know anything about.

Texas Parks and Wildlife offers boating safety courses statewide to familiarize everyone with boating laws, navigation rules, docking, anchoring and even handling accidents and emergencies aboard a vessel.

It’s in a classroom, you may take it through the internet, or you can take it through a home study course.

To find a class near you, log on to passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Think popping a cold one on a hot summer day aboard a boat won’t affect you the same as if you were behind the wheel of car? Think again.

Alcohol has three times the effect on water that it has on dry ground.

Boating Safety Educator, Jack Dyess, says combining alcohol with the movement of a boat on water and the flickering light on the water’s surface makes for a potentially dangerous combination.

Because the constant motion that most of us are not accustomed to on a normal basis…and any changes to our environment, when we add alcohol to it, it’s going to have a greater effect. I think anyone with reasonable intelligence that gives any serious thought to the subject understands that boating and drinking is dangerous.

Operating a boat while intoxicated could result in a fine of up to 2-thousand dollars and up to 180 days in jail. A second conviction and the fine goes up to 4-thousand dollars and up to a year in jail. While third-time offenders get hit with a fine up to 10 grand and up to 10 years in jail. Coming up on tomorrow’s show…

Everyone on the water needs to obey the boating laws…and the only way to know the law is take the boater education class.

That’s our show for today….with support form the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Drinking & Boating Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Think popping a cold one on a hot summer day aboard a boat won’t affect you the same as if you were behind the wheel of car? Think again.

Alcohol has three times the effect on water that it has on dry ground.

Boating Safety Educator, Jack Dyess, says combining alcohol with the movement of a boat on water and the flickering light on the water’s surface makes for a potentially dangerous combination.

Because the constant motion that most of us are not accustomed to on a normal basis…and any changes to our environment, when we add alcohol to it, it’s going to have a greater effect. I think anyone with reasonable intelligence that gives any serious thought to the subject understands that boating and drinking is dangerous.

Operating a boat while intoxicated could result in a fine of up to 2-thousand dollars and up to 180 days in jail. A second conviction and the fine goes up to 4-thousand dollars and up to a year in jail. While third-time offenders get hit with a fine up to 10 grand and up to 10 years in jail. Coming up on tomorrow’s show…

Everyone on the water needs to obey the boating laws…and the only way to know the law is take the boater education class.

That’s our show for today….with support form the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Drinking & Boating Play Now | Play in Popup | Download