Mount Pleasant, SC - Folks have already started hitting the water for the holiday weekend, but officials will be out there as well trying to keep you safe.

Officials with the Department of Natural Resources are urging folks to play it safe this weekend.

The fourth of July weekend is one of the busiest times on Lowcountry waters.

“You have vessels in every direction and anyone who operates a boat knows you don’t have any brakes,” Angus MacBride with the Department of Natural Resources said.

Before people drop anchor, the Department of Natural Resources is doing safety checks on shore and in the water.

“This time of year we’re out to save lives and to do that we want to make sure each boat has the proper safety equipment and the operator is not impaired,” MacBride added.

Proper safety equipment includes a fire extinguisher, a whistle, horn or bell to signal in case of an emergency and life jackets for everyone on board.

“The Department of Natural Resources has a zero tolerance policy on wearable personal floatation devices,” MacBride added. “An accident can occur in the blink of an eye and it is important to have a life jacket on at all times because you don’t know when that accident is going to happen.”

Officials say they will be looking for folks who are drinking and boating. Offenders will face the same charges as drinking and driving.

DNR will be holding more courtesy boat inspections all weekend. Click here to find a list of locations.

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