The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has proposed two rule changes involving equipment used on boats.

One measure would mandate those fire extinguishers required on boats be in working order.  A current rule requires U.S. Coast Guard-approved fire extinguishers on boats. Class A and Class 1 motorboats must carry at least one fire extinguisher of B-I type or larger; Class 2 motorboats at least two B-I type or larger; and Class 3 boats at least one B-II type and one B-I type, or three B-I type.

However, the existing rule does not stipulate that those fire extinguishers be maintained in working order. Fire extinguishers that are not serviceable or those that have been discharged are a safety risk to boaters.

The second GFP commission proposal would allow emergency rescue and law enforcement boats to use red emergency lights or a combination of red-and-blue emergency lights, as well as the blue emergency lights currently allowed.

Additional information is available online at the official South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks website.

Those wishing to provide written comments on the boating proposals may do so until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 29. Comments may be mailed to Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, S.D., 57501, or emailed to wildinfo@state.sd.us

Each comment must have the sender’s full name and address in order to be included in the public record.

Comments may also be presented in person at the 2 p.m. CST public hearing of the GFP Commission on  Thursday, March 1, at the Fort Pierre Holiday Inn Express.