Jobbie Nooner attendees reminded about U.S. border water crossing rules, boater safety tips
Jobbie Nooner is a popular, but unofficial, all-day boat party on and around Gull Island on Lake St. Clair. The schedule is twice a year on the last Friday in June and the first Saturday after Labor Day, according to
Originating in 1974, it was initially a gathering of "Jobbies" (auto workers who called themselves that) taking a skip day to party on the lake. The event grew in popularity and is now considered one of the largest boat parties in the Midwest, attracting thousands of people annually.
Customs and Border Protection reminders
Boaters who plan to take part in the Jobbie Nooner boat party activities on Lake St. Clair have been given a reminder from U.S. Customs and Border Protection about legally reporting their arrivals in the United States.
Small pleasure vessels that arrive from a foreign port or location, including Canada, to include visiting a hovering vessel or having received merchandise outside U.S. waters, must report their arrival immediately to CBP upon landing in the U.S., the law says.
Lake St. Clair, which is part of the Great Lakes waterways, is situated along the international boundary between Michigan and Ontario.
"If you do not follow the reporting requirements and enter the United States illegally, you will be prosecuted, and your vessel will be seized," U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector Chief Patrol Agent John R. Morris, said in an announcement directed to Jobbie Nooner attendees.
The CBP says arrival sites that count as reporting locations in the U.S. include Metro Beach Public in Harrison Township, Erma Henderson Park in Detroit and Elizabeth Park in Trenton.
"The people that came in today (Thursday) were preparing in advance so they wouldn't be in the rush tomorrow morning," said Grace Lancaster, an employee at Duffy's Landing.
As an alternative, the CBP suggests boaters who want a convenient and fast way to report their arrival use the mobile app. A boat's arrival in the U.S. can be reported using that app on a smartphone or tablet, and qualifies in most cases as an "alternative inspection system."
Boater safety tips
In the meantime, the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office has issued some safety reminders for boaters who plan to participate in the Jobbie Nooner party.
Specifically, the water levels in Lake St. Clair are currently lower than during previous years. "Boaters should be extra vigilant of water hazards. Cuts that have been used in past years around the lake may be now impassable for some vessels due to low water levels," the sheriff's department said.
Boaters should also keep a close watch on the weather conditions, which deputies said "can turn in an instant. Keep an eye on the radar and err on the side of caution when deciding to go out/to return."
The CBS News Detroit NEXT Weather team says there is a risk of severe weather during the late afternoon and evening on Friday.
