Because this is traditionally a time of year that sees heavy airboat usage, due to alligator harvesting season and Labor Day, Alachua County is reminding airboat users about the County’s nighttime airboat curfew. Section 114.09 of the Alachua County Code prohibits the operation of airboats from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Especially during daylight saving time, airboat operators should make sure to land prior to the curfew. Targeted patrols to monitor compliance may occur at any time.
The curfew applies to all waters within Alachua County. Even if a boater launches from a neighboring county, all of Orange Lake and Santa Fe Lake are within Alachua County.
The only exceptions to the curfew are for government airboats operated in the line of duty by authorized personnel, and private airboats authorized by law enforcement personnel during specific emergency incidents.
Citizens can report curfew violations to the Combined Communications Center at 352-955-1818.