mine never comes of while I am out on the water.

They cant fine you for not wearing a life jacket. I call BS. Sure you should wear one but it is not a criminal offense if you do not, except for kids

actually if you don't have traditional lifejackets in the boat and aren't wearing the inflatable, according to the law, you are without a lifejacket...so YES, they can ticket you. Make sure that you're also connected to your kill switch while underway as well.

Do some research before calling anything. They aren't hiding the rules. An inflatable pfd doesn't count unless it's worn. Easy fix is to have a normal one stowed to be legal.

**Edit** After rereading, I think you're getting hung up on the "must be worn" part. If you have a non-inflatable on board then you're legal to not wear one. An inflatable only counts towards the "1 life jacket per person" rule when it's being physically worn, not when it's stowed away.
Kids under 13 have to have a pfd on anytime the boat is underway. This means big motor, trolling motor, even drifting. In other words, if you aren't anchored, tied off, beached, power poled down, then the kiddos gotta be pfd'd up.

Correct me if I'm wrong, does the new kill switch law allow not being hooked up at idle speed? This is the impression I was under, just looking for clarification.

Also, what's the hold up developing inflatables for kid sizes?

The law, signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in early June and effective Sept. 1, applies to drivers of boats 26 feet or less in length that are equipped with emergency engine cut-off switch technology. Headway speed is a slow idle -- just fast enough to maintain steerage on course

Exactly where is this new law? It’s been misstated for a awhile now that you must wear a inflatable for it to be legal. It depends on what the label says on how you must use it. You have to use it according to the labor. Generally those that auto-inflate will not be Type 5 which must be worn.

I always keep another vest in the boat as a number of game wardens to law enforcement don’t know the law and think you must wear a inflatable for it count.

I see nothing in the law that says an inflatable doesnt count unless its worn or that PFDs have to be worn except for PWC and for kids under 13. It does say if you have a kill switch the driver must have it attached at all times when a PWC is underway, and at greater-than headway speed for all other motoroboats other than a PWC..

THere was a video on here or BBC of the Sam Rayburn guy on YouTube. He did a video that discussed this issue. He had a game warden on the vid. THe upshot is that unless its worn, the inflatable doesn't count as a LP. Of course, as has been mentioned, if you had a regular throwdown LP, the point is moot.

The best life jacket in the one you are wearing and not stuffed under the seat of the boat.

My inflatables are not Mustangs, they are Bass Pro's brand IIRC and about $80. They are both manual and automatic inflatable and once you put it on, you soon forget about it. I have even gotten back in my truck once without remembering to take it off.

Wayne

I'm sorry this has to be long, but it's important. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but I must because I hate for bad info to be disseminated to the masses. You're wrong about the law.You are definitely misinterpreting it. I've spoken with the TPWD commander in charge of boating enforcement in the state of Texas, and I'm sure I do not have this wrong. The information I present here is not applicable for PWC - only "boats" which would include the vessels we typically fish from. Of course, no person under the age of 16 can use any inflatable as a required PFD, so the info below concerning inflatable PFDs applies only to adults.

You are required to have a "legal" (qualifying) PFD for each individual on the vessel. The State of Texas defines this as any US Coast Guard certified Type I, Type II, or Type III PFD. The law doesn't care if they are inherently buoyant (traditional self-floating), or inflatable, just that they be properly sized for each person, and certified Type I, Type II, or Type III by the USCG. Each PFD must also be in good working order. Good working order means several things; it means no tears in fabric, no missing belts or broken zippers, etc. If the PFD is inflatable, then it must be properly armed and loaded with a good CO2 cylinder to be considered in working order. Officers may inspect that the "arming status" shows green, not red. Red will get you a citation if you don't have another PFD on the boat for that person.

Here's the BIG KEY: Look at the printed label info on the inside of any PFD you have. If it designates the PFD to be USCG-certified Type I, II, or III, is in working order, and is readily accessible on the vessel (not in locked compartments, for example), you are good to go. You DO NOT have to wear it, but I hope all of you do.

There is one screwy exception to the above, and this is where hordes of people start misunderstanding, and misinformation travels like wildfire. There is such a thing as a Type IV PFD. But, Texas only recognizes Type I, II, or III as "legal". Many Type IV PFDs have a label stating that the PFD will qualify as a TYPE III PFD when worn. So, if you have a TYPE IV PFD, but put it on - voila - you are now wearing a TYPE III PFD legal in the state of Texas. Getting or not getting a citation isn't about the PFD being inflatable - it's about that PFD being a TYPE IV device!

I have Type II and Type III PFDs that happen to be inflatable in my boat during hot months. They can lay on the deck and be legal. The law only cares that they are legally qualifying, and makes no demand that they be worn. If I had a TYPE IV PFD laying on the deck, it doesn't qualify because it just isn't a proper PFD by type, having nothing to do with what makes it float. However, the label may say it's a TYPE III if I put it on. This is the part people get confused over.

Look at your PFD and follow the label. If it is TYPE IV, and states you must wear it for it to be considered as a TYPE III PFD, you have your orders. For those of you who have a working Type II or Type III inflatable PFD, don't worry about it if you want to take it off at your whim. Nor are you required to have "backup PFDs" on the boat. Don't believe me? Call Austin or your local TPWD District office yourself.

You're almost right. There's that one quirky exception where someone has a TYPE IV PFD on the boat that becomes TYPE III if you put it on, per the certification label. TYPE IV, by law, isn't an acceptable PFD in Texas, but TYPE III is. So, in this one scenario, you CAN be fined for not having it on. (Caveat: If you have an extra legal PFD on board, the TYPE IV would not have to be worn.)

My long post goes into more detail.

I'm a FF and the BPS 34 and I forget the other one I have, they fit fine. Picked up on BBC for half price. If you're looking for the "top of the line" (at least in bass fishing, some of the sailing ones are even more expensive), the Mustang "best one" fits my big butt.

Mustang is the best. Just keep it on all the time. You never know when that unexpected event happens. Better safe than sorry.