Austin’s lakes are about to get crowded, and not just with boats. State and local law enforcement say they will flood the area with extra land and water patrols this Memorial Day weekend, urging both visitors and locals to wear life jackets and stay sober behind the wheel of any vessel. Expect to see more units on Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and other hot spots as holiday crowds swell.
What to Expect on the Water
The Austin Police Department’s Lake Patrol will be out enforcing the city’s long-standing personal-watercraft ban and running safety checks at boat ramps. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office plans to add deputies on roads and around Lake Travis to cut down on impaired driving. The city ordinance is detailed by the City of Austin, and last year’s enforcement pattern is outlined in last year’s patrol surge.
By the Numbers
Data provided to local reporters by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department show 2025 was a deadly year on Texas waterways: 108 total water fatalities, including 58 open-water drownings; 223 boating-while-intoxicated arrests (69 in May alone); and roughly 84% of fatal victims were not wearing life jackets. Those figures were published locally and summarized by FOX 7 Austin.
“What gets you tied up out here is complacency. Again, our biggest message is to have a plan,” Texas Game Warden Jacob Henderson told FOX 7 Austin, urging boaters to assign a sober operator and confirm everyone aboard has a wearable life jacket. Henderson and other officials emphasized that most lake fatalities happen on weekends and in the early summer months.
Rentals and Livery Obligations
Renters do not get a pass. State rules require liveries to provide all required safety equipment, explain how a vessel operates, and have each operator sign an acknowledgment before the boat leaves the dock. The Texas Water Safety Act, published by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, lays out those duties and the full list of required equipment. Officials say rental companies will be part of this weekend’s spot checks.
How to Stay Safe This Weekend
The safety advice is not exactly glamorous, but it is simple. Wear a properly fitted life jacket, appoint a sober captain, secure a throw cushion and a fire extinguisher, and avoid standing up on moving vessels. If you rent, ask the operator to demonstrate how the boat works, since agencies say a refusal to instruct is a clear red flag. Officers can order any vessel with missing or unsafe gear back to the dock until problems are fixed. For emergencies, call 911; to report non-emergency boating violations, contact local authorities or Texas Game Wardens.
