Authorities seeing increase in number of boats on the Merrimack River, warn boaters to know the law

METHUEN, Mass. — Police along the Merrimack River are out in full force as more people are taking their vacations on their boats this summer.

Police are sending out warnings to boaters to know the law and be safe as we are approach the weekend.

Boston 25 went along with Massachusetts Environmental Police and Methuen Police along the Merrimack River to catch a glimpse of what the waters look like now that more people are opting to go out on their boats in efforts to socially distance.

Captain Scott Amati is with the Massachusetts Environmental Police. We witnessed he and his crew stop a man on a jet ski where police wanted to make sure they have their registration.

“The single biggest problem is historic, it’s common sense, that people not having life jackets and other life saving equipment on their boats,” said Amati.

“We are seeing double the traffic,” said Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon. “There is more traffic on this side of the river because the Lawrence boat ramp is shut down.”

Environmental police say that part of the problem on the river is that the Lawrence boat ramp is shut down, which is forcing boaters to go to the other end - the Methuen boat ramp. It is causing problems because people aren’t abiding by the rules.

Solomon says that now more than ever they are seeing more people out on their boats doing staycations because of the pandemic.

“We are seeing more people drinking and driving while boating,” said Solomon.

Along with that, there are first-time boat operators.

“With the world being the way it is right now, we are getting a lot of inexperienced boat operators,” said Amati.

Amati says people need to act like everyone is a first time boater operator because of the amount of traffic on the river. For a father and son who were out on the river they say the main concern for them is safety.

“Respect the guide lines that are being given right now to be socially distant,” said Benjamin Marte, of Lawrence.

You can find more information about the Massachusetts Boating Law here.

Cox Media Group