Don’t drink and drive when operating a motor vehicle of any kind. And that includes a boat, especially on this Labor Day weekend when many boaters will be out on the waterways of New Smyrna Beach and throughout Volusia County and off shore along the coastline.
Have any of you ever thought about what the holiday is and what does this holiday represent. A little research reveals that the first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York. The origin of Labor Day can be traced back to Canada, when in December 1872, a parade was staged in support of the Toronto Typographical Union's strike for a 58-hour work-week.
A decade later, American Peter J. McGuire, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, was asked to speak at a labor festival in Toronto, Canada on July 22, 1882.
After returning to the United States, McGuire and the Knights of Labor organized a similar parade based on the Canadian event, which was successfully accomplished on September 5, 1882 in New York City. It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike.
President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.
All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday. The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday -: a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families.
This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday proceeding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.
The holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parties. Families with school-age children often take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer recess. Similarly, some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school.
Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, public art events and water sports.
The latter is associated with numerous boaters trying to enjoy that "last day of fun" on the water. Many of the passengers and/or the operator often bring along beer or other alcoholic beverages with which to celebrate the holiday.
Almost everyone knows that driving under the influence is a problem that plagues our nation’s roads and highways. Everyone knows that drinking and driving causes a large number of traffic fatalities.
However, when you are out on the water and relaxing, drinking may not seem like an issue. You are out to have a good time, right? Drinking a few beers is all a part of having fun while enjoying the water and sunshine. However, boating under the influence (BUI) is a big deal.
Someone operating a boat with a blood/breath alcohol content (or BAC) of over Florida 0.08 BAC in adults or a blood/breath alcohol level or BAC/breath alcohol level of 0.02 in minor boaters are many times greater to be more likely to die in a boating accident than someone driving a boat while sober. Some groups go fishing, but many motor over to islands for "get-togethers."
Many of the groups bring beer or other alcoholic beverages to celebrate the holiday weekend. Exposed to the heat and fun, it is not uncommon to see an operator of a boat committing BUI (boating under the influence). The symptoms that typically attract law enforcement agencies to individuals who may be boating under the influence include:
• Speeding
• Erratic operation of the watercraft
• Equipment violations (life preservers or navigation lights)
• Right-of-way violations. Much like operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, boating under the influence is a criminal offense.
This law makes it unlawful to operate a boat or watercraft with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or greater (or 0.2 in minors). A person who is convicted of boating under the influence (BUI) is subject to legal consequences similar to those for DUI, such as imprisonment, substantial monetary fines, community service, and probation.
So do yourself and others a favor: Don’t drink and operate a boat.
Capt. Budd's fishing report:
The sea water surface temperatures were in the low- to mid-80s all week. In the surf and piers, anglers are reporting catches of whiting, a few spotty catches of small pompano, and catches of some black drum.
In Ponce Inlet, small trout and sheepshead were being caught.
In both the Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons, top water catches were best in the morning.
In the Tomoka and Halifax Rivers, catches of redfish up to nearly 3 feet in length have been reported. Trout have been caught over the oyster bars. The flounder bite has subsided from that of the weeks before.
Offshore, there have been good catches of gray snapper in 13 to 14 fathoms of water. There was also a lot of flounder caught in eight to nine fathoms of water. The kingfish bite remains good.
Capt. Budd's PostScript:
It has been written: “Pride is surely the most unbecoming of all vices in a fisherman.”
So whether you charter, ride a head boat, run your own vessel, stay in the river, surf fish, or fish from shore or a bridge, there are fish to be caught. Fishing is not a matter of life or death, it is so much more important than that.
Tight lines, Capt Budd
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