Tennessee wildlife officers sharpen skills to spot impaired boaters ahead of season

JACKSON, Tenn. — As boating season approaches wild life officers are providing more training to identify impaired operators.

As more people head to the water, wildlife officers say they are sharpening the tools they use to identify the impaired boarders before fun days turns into an emergency.

“Over the next two weeks, we’re going across the state, and giving all of our wild officers a refresher course, and a field sobriety task, which include both seated and standing,” said Josh Landrum, captain of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The refresher includes tests, officers can use in a marine environment where the balance is already affected by wind, waves, in motion.

Officers practice both seated and standing exercises designed to spot impairment and support enforcement on the water. They say the goal is to prevent crashes and keep people from becoming another statistic.

“We continually train our officers so they have the ability and confidence to be out on our waterways, keep them safer, and try to prevent fatalities or serious-injury incidents across the state,” said Landrum.

Wildlife officers remind boaters that alcohol and operating any vessel does not mix. If you’re drinking, plan a safe ride back and let someone sober take the controls.

Enforcement will still continue as boating season is here.

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