Sharjah24 – AFP: Police in the US state of Maryland patrol the Chesapeake Bay waterways as an increasing number of boaters go out on the water during the summer months. Recreational boat sales soared in the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic as Americans sought safe outdoor activities.

"We definitely see a lot more first-time boaters, people who had wanted to get out and do something," says Officer 1st class Benjamin Dorsey of the Maryland Natural Resources Police. "So, they picked up a boat or a jet ski."

He pointed out, "Definitely, towards the mid-to-late of last summer, kind of when things relaxed a little bit at least on the waterfront and being able to go outside to do things, there was a dramatic increase, I would say. We definitely see a lot more first-time boaters, people who had wanted to get out and do something. So, they picked up a boat or a jet ski."

Continuing his speech, he stated, "We tend to see a lot more kind of negligent operation violations with jet skis versus with boats just because they are a lot of fun to go fast on. So, the faster you go, the increased chances are you’re probably going to go a little too fast, maybe get a little too close to something."