Law enforcement push water safety for Labor Day

North Texas law enforcement say they will be out on local lakes in big numbers over the Labor Day weekend to help keep people safe on the water.

Parents on Lewisville Lake say they're worried about the hidden dangers underwater, but one mother told Fox 4 she has a strategy.

"Anytime you're at the lake, it's so murky. You just don't know what will happen," Juanita Nunez said. "100 percent eye contact the whole time when you're out here, when your kids are in the water."

Nunez' six-year-old daughter Makayla knows how to swim and does not need a life jacket in shallow water, but it's the number of people on the water that had Nunez on high alert.

"What I get most concerned with are the jet skis that come in before the buoys," Nunez said. "Anytime I see that happen, I make sure I get her out of the water."

The high volume of swimmers and boaters are also a concern for law enforcement agencies who have launched the Labor Day "Safe Lake" program. Officers have eyes on the water and on land, looking for suspected drunk drivers.

Denton County Sheriff Will Travis said if boaters use a little precaution on board, it can save lives.

"When you get out here and get around this many people out here, it's a lot going on and a lot of people don't keep up with their friends," Travis said. "Even more than that, no one wears life vests and we've never pulled somebody from the water that's had a life vest on. We try to get out there and encourage boaters to wear the life vest."

Some boaters on the water were already taking the sheriff's advice.

"We are going to wear some life vests, make sure that everyone is behaving and not rolling around too much and watch out for other boats," boater Jim Large said.

Large said his family just wanted a smooth day on the water and to focus on why they were on the lake in the first place.

"It's a great chance for us to spend some time together out here in the sun and nice weather," Large said. "After that, it will be back to work."

Denton County Sheriff's deputies and Texas Parks & Wildlife game wardens will team up this weekend to watch those operating under the influence on boaters and jet skis.


By myfoxdfw.com Staff

Source: The MyFOXdfw