Kayaking w/o a Life Jacket: $101 each aka Boat Nazis

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I went out on a kayak for the first time in my life last weekend. I'm a good swimmer and on regular boats I know you don't have to wear life jackets after your like 16 so we just pushed off the dock and went out on the lake. About 10 minutes after my boyfriend and I were just paddling around the cove where we were staying we were pulled over by the boat police and give a $101 ticket each. Can you believe that? Just a word of warning to those of you who are strong swimmers and know that a kayak is nearly impossible to sink... You still have to wear your life jacket even in the cove. NO WARNINGS. Do you kayak? Did you know you had to wear a life jacket on those things all the time? Do you think that I should have just been given a warning?