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PROVO -- A popular pastime for many Utah families may result in tickets and fines if not adequately prepared.
Thousands of people spend the summer months floating down the Provo River, but Utah County officials are prepared to stop people if they're not wearing a life jacket, which is a violation of the county's ordinance requiring a flotation device to be worn while on the Provo River.
While preparing for a float down the Provo River Saturday, Jarakee Jensen politely reminded his daughter to wear a life jacket.
"She didn't want to wear one, but she's going to wear one if she wants to go down the river," said Jensen.
We'll tell them to make that argument with the judge and see if he buy's it, but I don't.
–Sgt. Spencer Cannon
It was the first run down the river this year for the Jensen family, and Jill Jensen wanted to get a tan. But after learning that not wearing a life jacket could cost her $45, she quickly changed her mind.
"I don't want to get a ticket," she said. "I don't have money to pay for one."
Many rafters don't know there is an ordinance requiring a life jacket while on the Provo River until they learn the hard way.
"We'll walk up the side of the river along the bank, see people that don't have life jackets on, and as they get out of the river, we'll make contact with them, issue them a citation for violating the ordinance to have a personal floatation while being on the river," said Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff's Office.
Cannon added that every summer his office issues citations to people not wearing life jackets, but this summer they're going to be more vigilant.
"We want to not worry about dragging a dead body out of here," he said. "Last summer we had two. We've had three we've responded to in Utah County this year -- four all together with the one in Provo City. And then we've had a couple others around the state."
As evident with so many drowning this year, Cannon said a lot of people underestimate how powerful the waters are. And with severe runoff expected this year, it could be even more dangerous.
"If you hit your head on something or you get caught on something under the water, you just don't ever plan for that accountability," Cannon said. "And it's a risk we would like people to mitigate by having a life jacket."
Those willing to take the risk by not wearing a life jacket will not get away with the excuse that they didn't know it was a law, Cannon said.
"We'll tell them to make that argument with the judge and see if he buy's it, but I don't."
Email: spark@ksl.com
