(MOBILE, Ala.) July 3 - The weather should be favorable for boating this weekend. And Alabama Marine Police are ready for the extra traffic on our local waterways. As NBC 15's Andrea Ramey reports marine police will be looking for people who are drinking too much.
Anglers Lewis Pettaway and Johnnie Gamble are dealing with a busy boat launch.
"Pretty crowded out here now, was this morning," said Pettaway. "It gets pretty crazy out here."
The holiday brings out more boaters. That means potentially more problems.
"People be out drinking, clowning, put a whole lot of people in danger," said Pettaway.
Alabama Marine Police are out in force this weekend looking for unsafe boaters.
"How much have we had to drink today?" one marine officer asked a boater.
Officers not only check to see how much people have had to drink, but they also make sure boaters have the proper safety equipment on board.
"If I could see a registration, operator's license, life jackets for everybody and a fire extinguisher?" the officer asked.
Boater Greg Mullek says the safety gear serves an important purpose.
"There's been a rash of incidents along the coast, people going overboard, some get rescued, some drown. Mobile Bay today it's slick as glass out there but it's not always like that," Mullek.
This holiday weekend marine police will be keeping a watchful eye on the action. These anglers say they're glad the officers are there to keep things from getting out of hand.
"We definitely need them out here," said Gamble.
The legal limit for alcohol consumption is .08, just like on the roadways. That is approximately four beers.
