PEOPLE HAVE TOLD TO EVACUATE. MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IS HERE, THE UNOFFICIAL START OF SUMMER. AND WHETHER YOU PLAN TO GET AWAY OR STAY IN TOWN, STAYING SAFE IS THE BIG MESSAGE. LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL WATCH THE ROADS AND THE WATER TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN DANGER. KCRA 3’S PEYTON HEADLEE HOPPED ON A BOAT WITH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES THIS AFTERNOON. SHE’S BACK ON LAND. SO, PEYTON, LET’S GO OVER WHAT VOTERS NEED TO KNOW FOR THE WEEKEND. YEAH, IT’S A BUSY WEEKEND. A LOT OF BOATERS OUT ON THE WATER, AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE MARINE UNIT WILL BE OUT PATROLLING HERE ON THE SACRAMENTO AND AMERICAN RIVERS ALL WEEKEND, MAKING SURE THAT BOATERS AND EVERYONE ON THE LAND AS WELL ARE STAYING SAFE. SO WE RODE ALONG WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. A BIG THING, THEY ARE CHECKING THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND BOATER CARDS. EVERY PERSON DRIVING A BOAT, REGARDLESS OF AGE, IS REQUIRED TO HAVE ONE. THAT LAW WENT INTO EFFECT AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR, AND AS BOATING SEASON GETS UNDERWAY, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS BOATERS HAVE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO GET ONE. SO USUALLY THIS WEEKEND IS THE KICKOFF TO OUR BOATING SEASON HERE IN SACRAMENTO. IT DOES GET REALLY BUSY, SO WE’RE OUT HERE TRYING TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND EDUCATE THE BOATERS ON THE REQUIRED EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NEED. WE COME IN CONTACT WITH YOU FOR ANY REASON. YOU’RE GETTING STOPPED, AND WE’LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR VOTER CARD. IF NOT, YOU WILL BE CITED. AND THEN THAT’S SOMETHING YOU GET TAKEN CARE OF ONLINE. AND AS BUSY AS IT LOOKS NOW, THEY SAY THEY EXPECT THAT TO DOUBLE THIS WEEKEND. THEY WILL BE O
Sacramento County deputies enforce boater card law during Memorial Day weekend
Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies are patrolling waterways this Memorial Day weekend, focusing on safety and ensuring boaters have required boater cards.
Updated: 6:17 PM PDT May 22, 2026
Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies are patrolling local waterways this Memorial Day weekend to ensure safety and compliance with boating regulations. The sheriff’s office marine unit will be on the water throughout the weekend. KCRA 3 rode along with them as they patrolled the Sacramento and American Rivers on Friday afternoon. Deputies were checking for boater cards, which are required for anyone operating a boat, regardless of age. This law went into effect at the beginning of last year, and officials say boaters have had plenty of time to obtain the necessary certification. “If we come in contact with you for any reason, you’re getting stopped — we’ll make sure you have your boater card. If not, you will be cited and then, you know, it’s something you can get taken care of online,” deputy Michael Nofzinger with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said.Nofzinger said it wasn’t too busy out on the water on Friday, but expects that to change for the remainder of the weekend. “Usually, this weekend’s the kickoff to our boating season here in Sacramento. It does get really busy. So, we’re out here trying to spread awareness and educate the boaters on the required equipment that they need,” Nofzinger said. “Big things we’re looking for on the water this year is just safety issues.”They will remain on patrol through Monday.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
, Calif. —
Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies are patrolling local waterways this Memorial Day weekend to ensure safety and compliance with boating regulations.
The sheriff’s office marine unit will be on the water throughout the weekend. KCRA 3 rode along with them as they patrolled the Sacramento and American Rivers on Friday afternoon.
Deputies were checking for boater cards, which are required for anyone operating a boat, regardless of age. This law went into effect at the beginning of last year, and officials say boaters have had plenty of time to obtain the necessary certification.
“If we come in contact with you for any reason, you’re getting stopped — we’ll make sure you have your boater card. If not, you will be cited and then, you know, it’s something you can get taken care of online,” deputy Michael Nofzinger with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said.
Nofzinger said it wasn’t too busy out on the water on Friday, but expects that to change for the remainder of the weekend.
“Usually, this weekend’s the kickoff to our boating season here in Sacramento. It does get really busy. So, we’re out here trying to spread awareness and educate the boaters on the required equipment that they need,” Nofzinger said. “Big things we’re looking for on the water this year is just safety issues.”
They will remain on patrol through Monday.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel