The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding people that swimming is prohibited at fishing access areas out of safety concerns.
The areas' primary use is for launching and retrieving motorboats.
The department maintains more than 180 such areas on lakes and rivers. Officials say they were bought and maintained with funding from the sale of fishing licenses and motorboat registrations and a federal excise tax on fishing equipment, fishing tackle and gas for motorboats.
Vermont game wardens say they have responded several times in recent weeks to people swimming at fishing access areas. In some instances, adults and children were swimming while boats were being launched.
Swimmers at access areas face a fine of $162.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
