Police are setting up shop on and around Lake Austin this Memorial Day weekend to keep roads and waters safe. Holiday weekend warriors are expected to be out in full force for grilling, boating, and various water-bound shenanigans. This means that while lake-goers are encouraged to splash around and have fun, there are a few no-nos.
To stay on top of the parade of Memorial Day visitors DWI enforcement officers will be perched on roadways surrounding Lake Austin and aboard Lake Patrol vessels to nab drunk motorists, both wet and dry.
A DWI “no refusal” initiative – meaning you either blow into the alcohol sensor or a judge will order your blood drawn for testing – will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday through Monday, while BWI no refusal will cover Sunday and Monday from noon to 5 p.m.
Police have also banned the use of personal watercraft such as wet bikes and motorized surfboards from Friday night through Tuesday morning to make room for extra lake visitors.
If, however, you find yourself stumbling off the lake this weekend, there are plenty of transportation options to keep you out of cuffs. Yellow Cab offers round the clock taxi services to Lake Austin.
Between waves to other boaters and zipping across the water, police encourage boaters to keep an eye out for activities that go overboard – in case someone actually does go overboard.
Safety is the main concern here, so fight off the urge to prove that you can catch air in your Sea Ray Sundancer, leave the wet bikes and boards at home, and have a safe holiday.
This article appears in May 27 • 2011.