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WPEC-TV CBS12 News :: News - Treasure Coast News - Fort Pierce Marine Patrol keeping busy on July 4th

Fort Pierce Marine Patrol keeping busy on July 4th

FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- Thousands of you spent time soaking up the sun today just cruising on your boat. Boating industry officials on the Treasure Coast says this is the single, largest holiday for boaters. But it's also the most dangerous.

It's not so much about law enforcement as it is about safety. The last holiday they had to rescue two swimmers from the water. They are part rescue, part safety patrol, and part crowd enforcement in the midst of a non-stop party of thousands who take to the sandbars.

Officer Keith Holmes/Fort Pierce: We're just out here to keep the peace and keep it safe.

Fort Pierce Police Marine Patrol aren't here to crash the party. Officer Keith Holmes and his sergeant just try to make sure things stay safe, no one gets violent, and no one suffers from drunk drowning.

The 4th of July means fireworks, parties, alcohol and boating accidents. According to the Boat Owners Association of the United States, more die in boating accidents on July 4th than any other day.

CBS 12: When you say you pulled 2 from the water what do you mean?

Officer Keith Holmes/Fort Pierce: They got out of their boat and were swimming and can't swim anymore. The current got a hold of them and off they went.

And as the party continues into the night things tend to get a little dangerous.

Officer Keith Holmes/Fort Pierce: Drinking all day and staying up all night, and half the time its just weekend boaters who take boats out on the weekends so they are not very avid boaters.

Officer Holmes will be on the water all night making sure you get out safely. Follow the no wake zone rules and enjoy the fireworks in the Fort Pierce Inlet. But that doesn't mean they wont write tickets or make arrests, in fact Memorial Day weekend six boaters ended up in jail instead of out on the water.

Marine patrol says if you plan on boating after dark, make sure you have a navigation system spotlight or are extremely familiar with the channels as some markers get difficult to see at night.Fort Pierce Marine Patrol keeping busy on July 4th

Wednesday, July 4 2012, 06:47 PM EDT

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