Had the game warden pull up and ask to see two vest (Mine and wife) . I showed him our two type V bass pro vest and he said they had to be worn at all times. He never was closer than 20 yards and did not inspect the vest.

Anyone know if this is correct or not? As I read the rules, the GW was wrong..

Yes that is correct, they have to be worn at all times, if there are no other types of life vests in the boat.

If you have two regular life vests in your boat, then you do not have to wear them all the time.

In order to to be considered acceptable for use as your PFD, type 5 inflatables have to be worn. This I believe is stated on the papers attached or on the Texas Parks and Wildlife book.

I have an Auto-inflate Sospenders that is a type V with type ll performance and it says it has to be worn at all times to be legal.I also have a manual inflate that is a type lll and it doesn't have to be on.I was checked once with the manual-inflate on the seat and had a GW tell me it had to be on,he didn't give me a ticket so I didn't argue,but I did look it up when I got home and he was not correct on the type lll.

I have talked to more then one game warden about this, because I wanted to make sure that I didnt get a ticket, and they all told me the exact samething, wheather it's a type III or V, they all must be worn all the time, unless you have the traditional style vests in the boat as well, then you dont have to wear them all the time.

The game wardens I have talked to, were from different parts of the state, one from the DFW area, one on Lake Fork, one on Sam Rayburn and one on Lake Nacogdoches, and they all said the exact samething.

So to me, it would seem as they are correct, and besides that who really wants to argue with a game warden about the law.

Well if the GW's are correct about the type lll having to be worn to be legal then the should change the wording in the rule book,because a type lll does not have to be worn.I think if I received a ticket for this I would have a good case with the judge.

Possibly, I personally wouldnt want to find out, it's not real hard to keep a couple of regular jackets in the boat.

Atleast that's the way I see it.

I wouldn't want to go out and get a ticket just to prove a point and I do have 3 other vest type jackets in the boat just in case,but I have found this to be somewhat confusing to say the least.I don't believe the GW's are on the same page as the regulations.

They may not be, but I wont be the one to question them...

Read the attached tag or printed notice on your type III or V PFD.

BTM

Hopefully I won't be the example,but they can be wrong,I saw a judge take a little starch out of a GW's britches one time.

How about just wearing the inflatable PFD? That is what they were made for.

I can see his thinking on this. However at the bottom of the PFD section it says. "Inflatable PFDs are authorized only when used in accordance with requirements as presented on U.S. Coast Guard approval labels". Notice they did not mention any "Type" in this statement. Read the labels.

Lifesaving Devices (PFDs)
All Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) must be U.S. Coast Guard approved, in serviceable condition, readily accessible, and of the appropriate size for intended user.
All children under 13 years of age in motorboats under 26 feet in length must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while underway. Underway means not at anchor, made fast to the shore, or aground.
All vessels, including canoes and kayaks, must be equipped with one Type I, II, III or V wearable PFD for each person on board. A Type V PFD is acceptable only if used in accordance with the specific instructions on the label of the device.
Vessels 16 feet and longer, excluding canoes and kayaks, are required to be equipped with one Type IV throwable PFD in addition to the Type I, II, III, or V PFD required for each person on board.
Inflatable PFDs are authorized only when used in accordance with requirements as presented on U.S. Coast Guard approval labels. Inflatable PFDs are not approved for use on personal watercraft, waterskiing, or other high speed activity.