Loved ones of the victims of several boating accidents joined Nassau, New York, District Attorney Kathleen Rice to call for stronger boating safety laws in New York and across the nation.
Rice outlined several proposals Sunday that aim to prevent tragedies on the water. Among them are measures that would require boaters to obtain safety certificates and require boats to get periodic safety inspections.
She also said federal law should establish capacity regulations for recreational vessels and the capacity should be posted on boats.
Meanwhile, Nassau police said Sunday that they will increase marine patrols until Labor Day to improve safety, Newsday reported.
The additional patrols in Nassau will focus on boating while intoxicated and general safety, acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said. There will be an additional 70 to 100 hours of patrols a week on the North and South shores, focusing on the busiest areas and times.
Nassau currently has one patrol boat on the North Shore and one on the South Shore. Krumpter said two to three more boats would be added to supplement the existing two.
The call for more safety measures comes two years after the July Fourth sinking of the Kandi Won in Cold Spring Harbor. Three children were killed.
Rice told Long Island News 12 the safety laws should be more on par with driving laws.
Michelle Menino, whose husband killed by drunk boater, said she supported stricter laws.
