Following several recent tragic incidents on Lake Michigan, authorities will be patrolling Illinois rivers and lakes and Lake Michigan.

Following several recent tragic incidents on Lake Michigan, authorities will be patrolling Illinois rivers and lakes and Lake Michigan.

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the U.S. Coast Guard are urging people to operate their boats, jet skis and other watercraft safely as they celebrate the unofficial end of summer this Labor Day weekend.

Authorities will be patrolling Illinois rivers and lakes and Lake Michigan throughout the Labor Day weekend looking for safety violations and reckless operators following several recent tragic situations in the “Playpen” waters of Lake Michigan.

The U.S. Coast Guard is urging people to fully understand the rules and responsibilities for chartering boats. If passengers are paying to be aboard a boat, the vessel should be operating under one of the three options listed below:

In addition, IDNR is reminding people to exercise caution when using kayaks and canoes on Illinois waterways.

Finally, officials stress that drinking and boating do not mix, and that life jackets save lives. Tips for all boaters include:

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