The Bullhead City Police Department’s Waterways Unit will begin patrolling the Colorado River this Memorial Holiday Weekend and would like to remind residents and visitors to be safe around water this summer.
The Bullhead City Police and Fire Departments, Western Arizona
Regional Medical
Center, Mohave County
Parks and the City of
Bullhead City have kicked off the “Don’t Wreck Your Weekend” campaign to
promote boating safety.
The Bullhead City Police Department responds to approximately 50 watercraft
accidents every summer on the river. One common violation is of the “proximity
law,” where watercrafts must remain 60 feet apart from each other and the
shoreline when maneuvering above a wake-less speed. Our boating officers often
see personal watercrafts play and splash each other and do not realize how easy
it is to collide. Another common cause of accidents occurs when people travel
on the wrong side of the river. The order of traffic on the river is the same
as the traffic pattern on the roadway.
People are urged to pay attention, wear their life vest and to be a sober operator. Remember: stay right, boats can’t brake and keep distance.
It is important for operators, particularly people renting personal watercrafts, to know their vessel and the rules of the waterway. In an effort to help make the waterways safe, all rental consumers are mandated to watch a safety video before they operate a personal watercraft on the Colorado River. This safety video can be viewed by anyone on You Tube: https://youtu.be/YUHPMVHKuqY or on the Bullhead City Police Department’s Facebook or Twitter pages. Please prepare for the busy boating season and have a safe summer. Don’t Wreck Your Weekend!
In addition to the water, the roadways are expected to be congested. Extra patrols will be out looking for suspected DUI drivers this holiday weekend. Funding for the saturation DUI enforcement is provided by an Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety grant.
Please be a safe driver and operator on the waterways and roadways by being sober, patient and courteous. City offices will be closed on Monday, May 27th to observe the Memorial Day Holiday
