So Mackenzie thought she would go paddleboarding this last weekend. Her father asked her to wear a PFD (personal flotation device). Being a normal teenager, she told him sweetly that she knew how to swim and thought to herself that since she had just turned 18 and was into her second month of emancipation, she could pretty well do as she pleased. And so it was that Mackenzie elected to leave said PFD on the dock, not realizing that she was breaking the law. As was explained by the new Water Deputy Sheriff, Mark Byerhoff when he met up with Mackenzie paddling around out on the water, PFD’s have to be worn by everyone 14 years old and under "while underway." In that way of thinking, she was correct. But wait, there is more! He explained that everyone paddling around on a SUP (stand up paddleboard), must have a readily accessable PFD on board, preferably secured on the paddleboarder, not on a leash or strap. Oops! Dad 1, MacKenzie 0. (In this picture, Mackenzie is on the left, celebrating her emancipation, prior to meeting Deputy Mark. Her law-abiding cousin, Nona Kay, is on the right.)
This was Mackenzie’s first encounter with the law. Deputy Mark is John Wayne Toilet Paper, carries a Glock 17, 9 mm, and deals with all sorts of boaters when he is on duty in Island Park. He could not have made the encounter with Mackenzie any more positive. Earlier in the week, he stopped my jetskiing grandchildren and gave them inscribed T-shirts that say, “I got —caught—WEARING MY LIFE JACKET.” Mackenzie got a T-shirt when jetskiing and a friendly reminder while paddleboarding.
Deputy Mary told Mackenzie that the usual fine for her violation could be up to $100 and suggested that doing the dishes in the cabin would be a better penalty. He offered to do a boat safety inspection, found that our Idaho State Boating Stickers were expired, and was pleased to find that we had our registration papers confirming that the stickers had been purchased, but had not yet arrived. When he found we had no warning whistles, he provided us with some for our lanyards. During the inspection, he had a rapt audience of about six of my wide-eyed grandchildren who gathered around and listened to every word. They were amazed that Mackenzie had been apprehended on a paddleboard. He explained some of the proximity laws that he will be enforcing to help prevent us from being idiots or crashing into each other while we are on the water. He said that the law requires being apart at least 100 yards for jet skiers jumping the waves of other boats. He explained that jumping waves too close to other boats was the number one cause of jetskiing deaths in Idaho. The huge boat-created surfing waves are a common complaint, especially if their surfing tsunami crashes into others not interested in riding the big wave. Again, at least 100 yards is the limit for boats to pass near docks, shorelines, and other boaters, jet skiers, and paddleboarders. On the narrow channels that means with about 100 yards away from either shoreline, only about 100 yards remain in the center of the channel for boating. He will encourage boaters to use the open water for wave-producing activities.
It was clear that he was there for our protection and safety. My children and grandchildren will always remember that positive moment, brought to them by a caring gentleman with a sense of humor. As Deputy Byerhoff pulled away, back to patrolling the Island Park Reservoir, I noticed that he was wearing HIS PFD and wondered to myself how different things would be in this country if every child had this kind of positive first encounter with law enforcement. These pictures are of our grandchildren proving that you can have a great time complying with Idaho Boating Laws.
Ever vigilant,
RT
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