The Illinois Conservation Police Department would like to remind all boaters to wear their life jackets, since boating season has begun. Officers also want to make sure that all drivers of boats are sober while traveling. Department of Natural Resources Director of Communications Ed Cross stated, “Life jackets can save and the same could be said about making sure that while you’re in your boat, that you have somebody that is sober.” 145 people were arrested last year for operating a boat under the influence. Cross continued by saying, “You don’t want somebody that is impaired while your driving a car or truck, the same hold true for your boats. You want to make sure that the person is sober and alert.” Illinois has nearly a quarter million registered boats in 2017, with 80 boat-related accidents. Those 80 accidents injured 48 people and killed 12. IDNR reports that 10 out of 12 people that died could have survived if they had been wearing a life jacket or other personal floating device. 3 of the 12 fatalities involved alcohol or drugs. Over 1,300 citations were issued to boaters last year, along with nearly 5,000 warnings. State law also requires that anyone who is younger than 13 has to wear a life jacket on boats less than 26 feet.