Halesite, NY, July 2, 2024 – Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth, Town, County and Village officials, Town Harbormaster, and Suffolk County Marine Bureau held a press conference Tuesday to reinforce boating safety initiatives and speed zone changes leading into the July 4th holiday weekend.
The Town of Huntington and local law enforcement announced plans to increase safety measures to discourage intoxicated and speeding boaters in Huntington’s waterways during the July 4th holiday and the weekend.
The team also announced the reduction of speed zones to prevent unsafe conditions as thousands of boaters head to the water in crafts of all shapes and sizes for holiday fireworks and recreation. A map, outlining the speed /low wake zones highlighted the enforced areas. From 8:30 PM to 11 PM on the evening of Thursday, July 4th, the Town will be enforcing a temporary 5-mile-per-hour boating speed limit in the zones indicated on the map.
The enforcement measures in place this Fourth of July will ensure everyone can safely enjoy local fireworks displays off Huntington’s beautiful shores.
The map also lists eight boating emergency pickup locations:
• Powles Dock
• Lloyd Neck Bath Club
• Huntington Town Dock
• Huntington Bay Club
• Huntington Beach Community Association Dock
• Northport Yacht Club
• Soundview Boat Ramp
• Eaton's Neck Coast Guard Station
Gina Costa Lieneck, Mother of Brianna Lieneck who was killed in a 2005 tragic boating accident, spoke at the press event, saying “I hope everyone has a safe, fun filled holiday. But, more importantly, I hope everyone is considerate of the lives around you. By not following the rules and regulations of the waterways, you put a lot of people’s lives in jeopardy. Don’t drink and drive a boat or car. Don’t let your weekend end in tragedy.”
In 2019, NYS officially enacted Brianna's Law – a law that requires all operators of motorized watercraft to complete a state-approved boating safety course. Brianna's Law was named after Gina Lieneck’s daughter, Brianna Lieneck, who was tragically killed at the age of 11 in a 2005 boating accident.
It was Gina Lieneck who relentlessly walked the halls of Albany to get that critical boating safety legislation passed, ensuring that her daughter's life was not lost in vain.
It was 12 years ago when another young girl from Huntington was tragically killed on Long Island’s waterways. Victoria Gaines, who was just days shy of her 8th birthday, was killed when the boat she was on capsized in Oyster Bay after a Fourth of July fireworks display. The tragic accident is the reason that Huntington’s Boating Safety Week was formed in 2013, and is held every year at the beginning of each boating season.
Suffolk County’s Safer Waterways Act also requires boat operators to take a safety course and have the certificate displayed on board the vessel. Under the banner of the Town’s Victoria Gaines Boating Safety Program, the Town now offers advanced boating safety courses presented by Neptune Sail and Power Squadron. Each class addresses planning for and troubleshooting boating emergencies – information that can save lives.
The dates for the next scheduled American Boating Course, the state-required 8-hour course, will be September 9th and September 16th. For additional information, those interested can click on the following link: https://www.neptuneboatingclub.com/ or contact the Neptune Sail and Power Squadron Education Officer, Joe Kerner at 917-971-5629.
Huntington’s Harbor Patrol will be out patrolling the waters from 7:00 am until 2:00 am every day, and will be on call 24-7, to ensure the safety of local waterways. They will be supported by the Suffolk County Marine Bureau, to crack down on speeders, and intoxicated boaters, conduct boat stops, ensure boats are operating safely, have the proper equipment and required documentation, and adhere to the capacity limits in place to prevent unnecessary tragedies.
Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth said, “I have to remind everyone that boating while intoxicated is just as serious a crime as driving while intoxicated. We must remember, boats can be much larger than a car or SUV and operating one on water is a lot different than operating a vehicle on land. Adding alcohol into that equation is a deadly mix. As we mentioned earlier, boating safety is a collaborative effort. Not only will our own bay constables be out in force on the water, we will be working tandem with members of the Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau. We want this to be a safe, tragedy-free holiday.”
