Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

The La Paz County Sheriff’s Office Boating Safety Center has been accepted as a finalist for the BOAT US Foundation’s Life Jacket Loaner program location. The program will make child size life jackets available for loan to those boaters who may not have them, or forgot to bring them to the River.

The Coast Guard and all states require that children ages 12 and under be wearing a properly sized life jacket whenever they are in a boat, underway. Unfortunately many boaters don’t have life jackets for their children, or put them in life jackets much too big or too small. Having free children’s vests available will not only provide immediate protection for the child, but in cases where the boater is breaking the law by not having their children in life jackets, the vessel operator will not be forced off the water for non-compliance.

Being accepted is only the first step. The final step is for the public to vote for the locations where they would most like to see a Life Jacket Loaner program set up. Please go to the Boat US website via the link below and vote for the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office. Voting begins at 12:00 AM (Eastern Time), Monday April 29th, 2013 and continues until 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) May 12th, 2013. You can vote once per day per email address.

Help us keep boaters safe on our waterways and Vote for the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office for a Life Jacket Loaner site.

Web: http://shout.lt/hs0f
Facebook: http://shout.lt/hs0k

As much as I'd like everyone to vote for my Agency for this program, if one of the finalists is in your local area, by all means vote for them. But please vote to make this program as widely available as possible.

Thanks to all, in advance.

Done--
It had a word verify this time--

I did 5!

Voted LaPaz

Go BoatCop and LaPaz! Voting today was more rewarding than voting last November!

Done!

Just did it again. This is kind of like Chicago voting: Early & often!

Im in!!!!!!

Done!

Last day to vote.

Thanks for all your support, Guys.

I think we're in pretty good shape. I don't know exactly how many locations are going to get a Loaner Site, but we're solidly in 6th place.

If we do end up "winning" a selection, I want to express my appreciation to you guys. We wouldn't be as high up as we are, without your help.

Donesa....

Voting is now closed. Thanks again for all your help.

BoatUS will announce the winners on Friday May 17th.

According to their website:

"BoatUS Foundation accepts about 40 new sites into the Life Jacket Loaner Program during each application cycle. The group or waterfront location accepted into the program will receive 12 life jackets, as well as signs, brochures and a sign-out binder. The life jackets should be displayed in prominent location—like near a boating ramp, in a marina office, or near a fuel dock. A boating family can then check out the life jacket for a day, free of charge. At the end of the boating trip, they can return it to the same location."

So it looks like we stand a good chance in being selected. Especially since I don't believe there were even 40 sites up for voting.

In any event, win, lose or draw, I sincerely appreciate your support.