The Muskegon County Sheriff's Department's entire marine unit is now active for the season. The last of the unit's five boats went into the water Monday.
Power boats and sail boats are already filling docks around Muskegon Lake. Deputies in Muskegon use their boats to respond to emergencies on and in the water.
Deputies assigned to the boat are mostly there to remind boaters to follow safe boating rules -- not to ruin anybody's day on the water with tickets, but if needed they will issue them.
They ask boaters to go over their boat's equipment before going out. Have license and registration up to date. Take a safety class.
"For those who have not had a boater safety class, I would strongly suggest they take a boater safety class, regardless if they have a license to drive a motor vehicle or not. There are things taught in that class that are specific to the boating environment, and I encourage that. Some, based on age, must have a boater safety certificate in order to operate a boat -- so those are things to keep in mind."
He also said do not drink alcohol and operate boats.
Later this monthm the department will take delivery of a new boat, a 32-foot rescue patrol boat purchased with a port security grant.