VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – The Memorial Day weekend heralded a bustling start to the summer boating season in Volusia County, as throngs of visitors took to the local waterways.

Sgt. Matt Seltzer from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office noted an unprecedented surge in activity on the Intracoastal Waterway, observing an influx of boats like never before.

“Typically, we recognize the regulars and locals on a weekend, but this past weekend, particularly on Saturday, the number of unfamiliar boats was startling,” Seltzer remarked.

The influx of boating enthusiasts also meant heightened vigilance for the officers. Although the primary aim is to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, sometimes enforcement becomes necessary.

“Occasionally, issuing a boating citation becomes inevitable. It might pinch financially, but it also serves as a reminder that law enforcement is vigilant,” Seltzer explained.

Despite the constraints of Florida’s new Boater Freedom Act, which restricts random safety inspections, officers still found legitimate reasons for stops. Even minor infractions, such as incorrect placement of registration decals or missing vessel numbers, warranted further investigation.

“The registration decals are different colors. A lot of times we see them on wrong sides or sometimes not even at all. Same thing with the FL numbers on that boat or on that vessel. Something as small as that could lead to something a lot bigger,” Seltzer said.

Equipment failures were among the biggest concerns of the weekend. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued seven people approximately 22 miles off the coast of New Smyrna Beach after their boat broke down. Seltzer urged boaters to check their gear before heading out.

“Is all your equipment right and properly working? There’s been several boats we’ve seen that their motors are up and they’re working on it trying to get it back working again,” Seltzer said.

The response was a true team effort. New Smyrna Beach police, Daytona Beach police and the U.S. Coast Guard all patrolled the waterways alongside the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said joint training exercises held throughout the year help prepare agencies for high-traffic weekends like this one.