The Westchester County Police Marine Unit charged an Ossining man with Boating While Intoxicated last mont after the speedboat he was operating slammed into an anchored sailboat in the Hudson River.
Mark See, 38, of Highland Avenue was charged with BWI, a misdemeanor, following the incident, which occurred off the town of Ossining about a mile south of Teller’s Point. He was booked at County Police headquarters in Hawthorne and released pending a future appearance in Ossining Town Court. Two people aboard the sailboat, residents of Delaware and upstate New York, were not injured.
The crash occurred about 9:45 p.m. when a Crown Line speedboat traveling south on the Hudson struck the sailboat, which was anchored and had its anchor light on and visible. A man on the sailboat jumped into the river as the speedboat approached; the woman ducked down on the deck. The powerboat slammed into the rear of the sailboat and traveled upward, narrowly missing the woman who had ducked for cover.
“This incident could have been extremely tragic for the two people on board the sailboat,” Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said. “It is also provides a stark reminder of the danger of operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.” The County Police were assisted at the scene by the Ossining Police Department Marine Unit and Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
Since that incident, the Westchester County Police Marine Unit recently conducted increased enforcement on the Hudson River adjacent to Croton Point Park in response to unsafe activity by operators of Jet-Skis and other personal watercraft.
Multiple summonses were issued for violations of navigation law, including operating recklessly near swimmers or boats; operating in excess of 5 mph within 100 feet of the shore or anchored vessels; and operating a personal watercraft (PWC) after dusk. The increased enforcement will continue through Labor Day weekend and beyond.
“We want to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for people on the river whether they are boating, operating PWCs, swimming or fishing,’ Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said. “Our enforcement on the Hudson was in response to community complaints as well as an observed increase in unsafe activity by our Marine Unit officers.”
The Marine Unit reminds PWC operators that navigation law also prohibits weaving through congested marine traffic, jumping the wake of another vessel and “playing chicken.” County Police will also continue to encourage social distancing on and along the river, including on boats that have tied up together in a group.
“We have received complaints that some people aboard these boats are moving back and forth among vessels without wearing masks or maintaining social distancing,” the commissioner said. “We remind everyone that the governor’s executive order remains in effect and it requires people to maintain social distancing or wear a mask if they cannot.”
Navigation law requires that all persons operating personal watercraft must have completed a boater safety course and carry legally required equipment.
Required Equipment
· Life Jacket (required to be worn by all persons)
· Engine Cut-off Lanyard
· Sound Producing Device
· Visual Distress Signal
· Backfire Flame Arrestor
· Fire Extinguisher (on waters under U.S. Coast Guard jurisdiction, which includes the Hudson River and Long Island Sound)
Operating Restrictions· Operator must have completed a boating safety course.
· The minimum operator age is 14.
· Operation is prohibited between sunset and sunrise.
· Reckless Operation is prohibited, including weaving through congested marine traffic, jumping the wake of another vessel and “playing chicken.”
· PWC are prohibited within 500 feet of a bathing beach/swimming area.
