SACRAMENTO-
The Sacramento Police Department says people living in and abandoning boats along the Sacramento river has been an issue for a while, but now they want to do something about it.
They’re hoping the city council passes a new ordinance that will help them crack down.
Marine Unit officers say this is a serious concern because of what the boats may dump or leak into the water.
“There’s fuel, batteries and human waste that could be in our waterway and public safety is our main issue,” Marine Unit Officer Jason Warren said.
The new law would allow the police department to cite boaters living on the river for more than four days. Also under the proposed ordinance, officers would get a grant which would go towards towing abandoned boats.
“With this money and the news city ordinance we hope we adopt we hope we can do something about it and make the waterway safer,” Warren said.
Boaters tell FOX40 they notice abandoned boats and feel something should be done about them.
“There’s two or three boats that we’ve seen just on the side or busted up. There’s one down there, there’s a couple a few miles away,” boater Todd Landvik said. “It just seems a shame because it’s just creating a lot of trash on the side.”
Others agree that boaters who leave vessels abandoned and dilapidated should be held accountable.
“Leaving a boat in the river is like leaving a car on the side of the highway it’s just not right. You gotta get it cleaned up and make people responsible and move forward,” boater Bob Bouchier said.
Currently boats with a city permit can stay in the water for 30 days. Sac PD is hoping the city council okays the new ordinance in the coming weeks.
If the ordinance passes the police department expects it to go into effect by Jan. 1.