Six new Brunswick “Justice” Patrol Boats have been assigned to State and local law enforcement agencies across New York, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) announced yesterday.
The watercraft will be used to assist with marine law enforcement efforts on waterways throughout the State.
Governor Cuomo said. “These patrol boats help local organizations across the State maintain order on the waters in and around their communities.”
State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey added that “it is crucial that the State supports local law enforcement efforts to help keep boaters safe…”
This year’s patrol vessels were assigned to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department, the Long Island municipalities of Hempstead and Shelter Island along with the New York State Police, the New York State Park Police and the Lake George Park Commission. The vessels, valued at approximately $125,000 each, were made possible through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, which provides funding to the states to assist with recreational boating safety. The primary mission for these vessels will be the safety of recreational boaters and enforcement of New York State Navigation Laws.
The State has allocated a total of $2.1 million this year to defray the costs of marine safety efforts for 53 law enforcement agencies across New York.
Boating has a $2.1 billion impact on the State’s economy. New York is the only state that borders marine tidewaters, the Great Lakes and large interior freshwater lakes, in addition to having an extensive canal system.