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Kayak Culture Seen on Boat Patrol (Video)
Chelsea Dickens
Sat, 30 Jun 2018 21:37:19 EDT
click on the picture to enlarge
WLEW had the rare opportunity to take a venture out on the Huron County Sheriff patrol boats to get a first hand look at the kayak culture and the problem with safety and courtesy measures, Saturday.
On Saturday afternoon, while out on patrol with the marine division at Port Austin six citations were issued within around 20 minutes from kayaking novices not following the law and wearing or carrying life jackets in their boats.
The Point Aux Barques, Turnip Rock, area is one of the most popular destinations for kayakers.
According to Undersheriff, Duane Miller, there has been a reported 6,000 visiting kayakers in the year and turning away 2,500 who wanted to enter the gated community at Point Aux Barques. Point Aux Barques landowners even have enlisted the help of security officers who are paid through tax dollars. They believe they have come into contact with around seven hundred people in the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
In addition to disregarding laws and the distance from Port Austin to get there, law enforcement has found issues with indecency, trespassing and intrusion to the private property of landowners in that community.
"Not only with water situations do we have issue with, or get calls on, there's also trespassing issues in the Point Aux Barques area or at the Broken Rocks Association," Sheriff Kelly Hanson shared recently.
Hanson also has stated on multiple occassions that though the lake is an inland lake and remains seemingly calm in nature, it has swallowed boats and will swallow people.
For the Sheriff's office and the law enforcement in the area, they want people to understand safety is important while also having fun. They are out patrolling to protect and not to harass.
click on the picture to enlarge
A video discussing the kayaking conditions in the area and the patrol itself can be viewed as part of the article.
