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Make 2020 the Year When the boating season officially begins in 2020, boaters by the thousands will again make their way to Tennessee’s beautiful lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Officer Dustin Buttram and other wildlife officers with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) will be ready, day and night, rain or shine.
THE ROLE OF THE TWRA
The TWRA is the government agency in charge of patrolling the state’s waterways to check for safety and accident preparation. They are recognized by their uniform and when on the water, their green and orange striped patrol boats…and sometimes with blue, flashing lights. “Contrary to popular belief,” Buttram points out, “TWRA officers are not there to spoil the fun, they are working to see that boaters who are out on the lakes and rivers make it back home without incident.” Every TWRA officer has the authority to stop and board any vessel subject to the State Boating Act. They may issue citations or, when necessary, they may arrest, on sight, without warrant, any person they see violating any provisions of the Act. Boaters who are signaled to stop must do so immediately and maneuver in such a way that the officer may come along side or come aboard. “Mostly,” said Buttram, “stops provide teachable moments and can ultimately save a life.”
BUCKLE UP FOR SAFETY
Buttram is a strong believer that safety education is the key to avoiding a tragedy. According to Buttram, the single best action a boater can take to prevent a fatality while boating is simply to wear a life jacket when out on the water. An estimated 84 percent of people who drown in boating accidents were not wearing life jackets at the time. Lifejackets on a boat, in a compartment, do no good when an accident occurs. He said watercraft tend to present more hazards than landbased vehicles because water is more inherently dangerous and very few people who operate or ride in boats and personal watercraft are often not properly trained to operate them. In fact, research shows that some 77 percent of all boating accidents are caused by people with no boating education, with 5.5 fatalities occurring for every 100,000 people in the water. Add in alcohol to the mix and the results can be deadly.
