Has anyone been stopped by a Game Warden for not wearing their Type V PFD while trolling or drifting?

According to the law, the Type V must be worn to qualify as a PFD AND they must be worn while underway, which means not at anchor..made fast to the shore..or aground.

Dwight, according to the TPWD website only persons under 13 years of age, in vessels under 26 ft in length are required to wear an approved PFD while underway. Maybe I missed something, but I don't think so. Check it out. If you got a ticket, it should be thrown out by the judge. Unless the kind you showed him is the throwable,or cushion type, and you did not have the wearable type? I did not see anything about that.

Well, I went back to the tpwd website, and sure enough, the type V hybrid must be worn to be counted.

I was lucky and didn't get a ticket. The label of my Mustang PFD states it is a Type II for recreational purposes and a Type V for commercial purposes. I didn't argue with the Game Warden, didn't want to push my good luck.

The USCG rules when it comes to PFDs. Literally....

If the PFD is designated a type III by the USCG, then it IS a type III. End of story.

GWs ticketing folks for not wearing a type III inflatable are going to lose in court. The only thing that they can do that would keep themselves from losing is to perjure themselves.

TFP

The GW never looked at the label on the PFD to verify the Type. I may swing by the local TPWD office sometime this week and ask a GW his opinion on the PFD and how it relates to the current regulations.

Seems like if you had a couple of regular vests on the boat somewhere you would meet the regulation; don't have to actually wear them.

Wait I am confused... so if I take my boat out to the lake, and drive around, and stop and fish, do I actually have to be wearing a life jacket??? I thought you just had to have them in the boat just in case??? I have been stopped by the GW before in the middle of the lake, and I wasnt wearing a life jacket,, and I have never seen anyone wear a life jacket on the lake before except kids..

Oh just read "While trolling or drifting".... I have only trolled or drifted twice, but didnt know you had to wear a pfd.

Still confused..do you have to be wearing while trolling/drifting? and NOT while motoring? thismakes no sense

"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."

TXPWD Boating Safety Digest

Cannot find where it is required to be worn by adult while drifting

They may be carried instead of another PFD only if used according to the approval condition on that label; often stipulating that they be worn.

Ah, I get it

One place in the website says type V must be used in accordance with label, and another place (where little pictures are shown for each type) says must be worn to be counted. Somewhat contradictory. We are talking about only type V - inflatable- so don't be mislead to think you have to wear other approve types to be legal. You just have to have them on board and within easy reach. Except kids under 13 must wear a pfd while underway. I don't know for sure, but I suppose the reasoning is that an inflatable pfd does not float until inflated by the wearer?

they finally are gonna make you wear a seat belt in the back seat. next will be a life jacket all the time. it makes good sense to wear a life jacket while underway, but it should be up to each individual. this is supposed to be a free country. if it is your turn to go i think it is out of your hands. by the way, i do wear an inflatable while under way.

If you have an inflatable life jacket (ie Mustang ect...) it can only be counted as a life jacket on the boat if you are wearing it.
example...

If there are 2 people on the boat and you have one inflatable and one regular lifejacket on board the boat and the inflatable is not being worn you are illegal.

If 2 people on are the boat and you have 2 regular lifejackets on the boat and an inflatable thats not being worn you are legal.