Frequently Asked Questions

Following are the most commonly asked questions to the Water Patrol. If you cannot get an answer here,  call the Water Patrol Office or fill out a Help Ticket.

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Summer Related Questions

1. Do I need a driver's license to operate a boat in Minnesota?
2. Are children required to wear a PFD (Life jacket) while in a boat?
3. How far into shore do the Big Island Safety Lanes extend?
4. Do I need an observer to tow someone behind my PWC?
5. What do I do if I see a buoy out of place?

Winter Related Questions

1. When is the ice safe for winter activities?
2. The Water Patrol never says the ice is safe. Why?
3. Do I need a Metal Traction Device (Stud) Sticker?
4. What does the Water Patrol do in Winter?

General Questions

1. How do I get an extension on a Written Warning (Fix-it Ticket)?
2. Who can sign off on my Written Warning?

Do I need a driver's license to operate a boat in Minnesota?

You are not required to have a drivers license to operate a watercraft on any lake in the State of Minnesota, but you must carry proper, government issued identification.

If you are stopped by the Water Patrol, Coast Guard or Conservation Officer, you are required to have proof of your identity. This ID is usually a drivers license, but it could also be an Minnesota ID card, school or work ID, passport or any other official, government issued identification.

Are children required to wear a PFD (Life jacket) while in a boat ?

Yes, the law requires that a Coast Guard approved life jacket to be worn by children less than 10 years of age when aboard watercraft in Minnesota when the craft is under way (not tied up at a dock or permanent mooring). Exceptions are when the child is in an enclosed cabin or below the top deck on a watercraft, when on an anchored boat that is a platform for swimming or diving or when aboard a charter (passenger) craft with a licensed captain.

All persons on a watercraft must have a properly fitting PFD on board the water craft. This means that children need child PFDs and adults need adult PFDs.

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How far into shore do the Big Island Safety Lanes extend ?

The Safety Lanes extend all the way to shore. If any part of a boat (including the anchor line) is in a safety lane, it must be moved

The lanes permit access to the island and to the boats anchored close to the island for emergencies. They are also intended to prevent boats from being blocked in by other boats. There are four Safety Lanes plus one that runs parallel to shore. 

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Do I need an observer to tow someone behind my PWC?

State law requires that a PWC (personal watercraft) must have factory installed mirrors in order to pull a skier or tube. This rule does not apply to Lake Minnetonka!!

On Lake Minnetonka all watercraft that are towing skiers or tubes must have an observer that is at least 12 years of age. For PWC, the observer needs to be able to communicate with the operator and DOES NOT have to sit backwards.

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What do I do if I see a buoy out of place?

If you see a buoy out of place, or any other hazard to navigation on any lake in Hennepin County, report it to Hennepin County Lake Improvement at 612-348-4378. You can also send an email to  

If you are on the Mississippi or Minnesota Rivers, hail the Coast Guard on Marine Channel 16. 

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When is the ice safe for winter activities?

Ice is never completely safe. Currents, schools of fish and other occurrences under the ice can erode it quickly. Six inches one day can be less than two inches the next. Also, within a very short distance, thickness can go from 12 inches to less than an inch. This is especially true in rivers and streams.

The Minnesota DNR publishes the guide on the left to help you determine the minimum ice thickness for your planned activity.

For more information, visit the DNR website.

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The Water Patrol never says the ice is safe. Why?

Each year, as the ice begins to skim Minnesota’s lakes and ponds, the Water Patrol receives hundreds of phone calls from anxious anglers and snowmobile enthusiasts who all have the same basic question: "Is the ice safe yet?" The Water Patrol's standard answer is: "No, ice is NEVER safe."

Realizing this statement is usually misunderstood as being bureaucratic (and extremely evasive), deputies explain that even if ice is a foot thick in one area on a lake, it can be one inch thick just a few yards away. A local sports reporter recently stated that, "If it were up to the DNR and Water Patrol, people would never go on the ice." Although that is really the only way to be totally safe, it’s probably unrealistic to expect Minnesotans to give up winter outdoor activities to be totally safe.

Here are a few general guidelines for use by winter recreation enthusiasts to lessen their chances of an icy dip or worse. It’s impossible to judge the strength of ice by its appearance, thickness, daily temperature, or snow cover alone. Ice strength is actually dependent on all four factors, plus water depth under the ice, the size of the water and water chemistry, currents, and distribution of the load on the ice.  

• Wait to walk out on the ice until there is at least 4 inches of clear, solid ice. Thinner ice will support one person, but since ice thickness can vary considerably, especially at the beginning and end of the season, 4 inches will provide a margin of safety. Some factors that can change ice thickness include flocks of waterfowl and schools of fish. By congregating in a small area, fish can cause warmer water from the bottom towards the surface, weakening or in some cases opening large holes in the ice.

• Go out with a buddy and keep a good distance apart as you walk out. If one of you goes in the other can call for help. (Everyone should carry their cell phones if they have have one, so if one person goes in, the other can call for help.) The companion can also attempt a rescue if one of you are carrying rope or other survival gear.

• Snowmobiles and ATV’s need at least 5 inches, and cars and light trucks need at least 8-12 inches of good clear ice.

• Contact a local resort or bait shop for information about known thin ice areas.

• Wear a life jacket. Life vests or float coats provide excellent flotation and protection from hypothermia (loss of body temperature). Never wear a life jacket if you are traveling in an enclosed vehicle, however. It could hamper escape in case of a breakthrough.

• Carry a pair of homemade ice picks or even a pair of screwdrivers tied together with a few yards of strong cord that can be used to pull yourself up and onto the ice if you do fall in. Be sure they have wooden handles so if you drop them in the struggle to get out of the water, they won’t go straight to the bottom!

• Avoid driving on the ice whenever possible. Traveling in a vehicle, especially early or late in the season is simply "an accident waiting to happen." Of the 117 ice fatalities occurring in Minnesota since 1976, 68 percent involved a vehicle.

• Be prepared to bail out in a hurry if you are driving on the ice. Unbuckle your seatbelt and have a plan of action if you do breakthrough. Some safety experts recommend driving with the window rolled down and the doors ajar for an easy escape. Move your car frequently. Parking in one place for a long period weakens ice. Don’t park near cracks, and watch out for pressure ridges or ice heaves.

• Do not park near other vehicles. Ice is not like a parking lot; it can break with too much weight.

• Don’t drive across ice at night or when it is snowing. Reduced visibility increases your chances for driving into an open or weak ice area.

• Check at the access if there are signs that indicate an aeration system is in operation on the lake. Aerators keep areas of water open to provide oxygen for fish. The ice can be weakened many yards beyond where the ice is actually open. Stay well outside the fenced areas indicated by diamond shaped thin ice signs.

• Above all, avoid alcoholic beverages. Beer and booze increases your chances for hypothermia and increases the likelihood that you’ll make a stupid mistake that will cost you or a companion their life.

Try not to panic. Of course that’s easier said than done, but if you decide on a plan before you actually fall in, survival chances are greatly improved. 

Adapted from an article written by Tim Smalley, Boat and Water Safety Specialist for the Minnesota DNR

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Do I need a Metal Traction Device (Stud) Sticker?

A metal traction device (stud) permit is not needed for snowmobiles registered in Minnesota. However, you may not operate a snowmobile with metal traction devices on paved public trails, except when allowed by local government on trails under these jurisdictions or any portion of a paved state trail designated for such use by the commissioner. More information about Minnesota's metal traction device (stud) law.

Snowmobiles not registered in Minnesota must still bear a snowmobile state trail permit.

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What does the Water Patrol do in Winter?

The Water Patrol operates year round. In the winter, deputies patrol on snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles (ATV). They look for hazards, such as pressure ridges and open water, and enforce DNR and local laws.

During the "off" season (early spring, before the ice goes out, and late fall before the ice reaches minimum thickness) deputies prepare equipment and respond to emergencies. 

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How do I get an extension on a Written Warning (Fix-it Ticket)?

You generally have 14 days to take the corrective actions necessary on the written warning, have it signed and returned to the Water Patrol office. You need to allow time for the mail and for processing.

If you need an extension, you can get one by calling the Water Patrol office and requesting one. Please provide the Written Warning number (found in the upper right corner) and the reason for the extension request.

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Who can sign off on my Written Warning?

Generally, any Water Patrol Deputy or any police officer can sign off on a written warning. If a Water Patrol Deputy signs it, you do not have to mail it in.

The exception is for Written Warnings for violation of a noise ordinance. If you get a Written Warning for this offense, you will need to make an appointment to come to the Water Patrol Office to have your boat tested. 

If you do not respond to a written warning, you will be issued a citation for the original offense.

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