Got pulled over on the water for a change
 

Hey guys, im pretty new here on salty cajun. I appreciate the post all you guys put up here, really helps me out on the water. I got out this afternoon in prien and put a few trout in the boat, but on the way in, got stopped by the sheriff. He told me that in a class a vessel (less then 16 ft, or has a tiller handle), I must have a life jacket on while im runnin and the kill switch on my wrist. He let me off with a warning, but just wanted to give ya'll the heads up that he told me there gonna start crackin down hard on that.

Yep gotta have the life jackets!

It's been the law for a while.

I thought that only applied to tiller handles no matter the length?? I havent been wearing mine in my 15 with console, gonna have to check into this!!

16 and under but they cut ya some slack if jackets and kill switch are on.

ya i knew it was the law, ive just been launching at 210 and fishing prien since i was 16, and I've never been stopped or had anything said to me. Fella just told me they were putting a little more emphasis on it.. just wanted to give the heads up to the rest of yall that hated to throw on the life jacket every time ya make a short run across the lake

Not 16 and under. It's up to 16 with a tiller you must have a life jacket on. Kill switch must be worn if motor was or is equipped with auto cutoff.

All persons onboard a Class A motorboat which is being propelled by a hand tiller outboard motor shall be required to wear a USCG approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device while the motorboat is underway.

Class A (less than 16ft)

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/node/4641

That's correct.

Should be glad it was the Sheriff Dept.
LDWF and USCG would have wrote you up.

X2. Been the law for about 2 years.. last year they started cracking down

I almost got a ticket the other day for not wearing the non existent kill switch on my 1989 9.9 Evinrude.

so as surprised as i was to get pulled over yesterday .. i had the coast gaurd pull me over today .. second day in a row.. same spot right out in prien.. said he was doin a routine check, we passed .. other then a whistle and he gave me a whistle cause i didnt have one on board.. guess they all are crackin down

Well I have been in the clear...just looked on LDWF, 16 years or younger in 26' or less boat/life jacket required, all tiller handle steer opererators and passengers no matter of age life jackets required. If it is a mecahnical steering mounted rigidly attached to the boat and over 16 years of age no life jacket required.

If I'm reading it right any boat 16 ft and larger with a tiller, jackets aren't mandatory.

Tiller and 16' or LESS, no regards of age PFD required. Less than 26' PFD optional but kill switch attached mandatory.

I've got stopped in all the waterways in livingston, too many drunks out there skiing and operating boats for them to not be on the water during the summer. right now they know every one out there is a fisher or hunter so there isn't as much law enforcement out there. you also need a fire extinguisher if you have a double floor, that can be a peice of plywood on top of the channel in an aluminum boat.

Don't forget the meth-heads.

Like I said, it says LESS THAN 16FT. Read number 4

Right. Lotta people get confused on this. It's under 16'. Not 16' and under. If you have a 16' wit a tiller you don't have to wear your jacket.