Marco Island police are out in force this holiday, expecting massive Independence Day crowds along the many waterways in the city. July 4 is the busiest day for water travel on the Island, according to the department.
"July 4 is generally one of the busiest days. We have Memorial Day. Labor Day can do things like that in season, but July 4 takes the cake," said Officer Josh Ferris of the Marco Island Police Department's Marine Unit.
ABC7 News took a ride with Marine Unit officers Thursday, who said they are watching out for a few main things:
- Boating under the influence (BUI)
- Overcrowding of vessels
- Speeding through no wake and slow zones
- A lack of safety equipment and proper paperwork
"I think the biggest way to attack that is just being out here and being seen, making contact with boats and other people. Seeing us making contact with boats is going to help mitigate the problem," Ferris said.
Last year, Collier County saw 20 boating-relating accidents throughout our waterways, including a double fatal crash in North Naples' Little Hickory Bay.
The majority of those accidents were near Marco Island, and were due to distracted captains hitting fixed objects, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission.
"You're going to have Keeywadin and you're going to have Hideaway Beach, Tiger Tail Beach, Sand Dollar Island. Those are places where people like to congregate, and that's where we'll try to focus," Ferris said.
July 4 brings additional challenges to enforcement, as many boats will not return to shore at dusk, in preparation for Independence Day celebrations. The fireworks display on the island will occur Thursday at 9 p.m. between Tigertail Beach and South Beach, according to the city.
Jet skis and personal watercraft are prohibited on the island after dusk.
"Make sure you have a working VHF and all your lighting systems are working, your nav lights, your anchor light. That's really the only way we're going to be able to identify you, and anyone else is going to be able to identify you at night," Ferris said.