(WWJ) Swimmers could be fined up to $500 for failing to heed a red flag warning on Michigan's lakes.
It's all part of a plan under consideration by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) which says this is a real problem, and the threat of hefty fines might prevent people from having to be rescued or losing their lives.
A red flag means the water is off-limits for a temporary period because of high waves, strong currents and a high risk of drowning.
"People use bad judgement, and you topple over with a wave, and this rip current situation can be very volatile," DNR Chief Ron Olson told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "People fight it, and an Olympic swimmer can't beat a rip current."
The citation would be a civil infraction, similar those issued for things like taking a dog to the beach were prohibited.
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"This is something that we've talked about doing for a couple of years, and we decided that we wanted to go through the process to have this rule in place that we could use if we wanted to use it," Olson said.
WWJ's Beth Fisher reports the Grand Haven City Manager is in favor of the idea, saying that often it's tourists from non-lakeshore communities who go into the water and end up in trouble.
The move comes as the National Weather Service predicts dangerous conditions with up to 6-foot waves on Lake Michigan on Thursday.
The DNR will take public comment on the issue during a DNR Commission meeting on July 15. Olson said they will will make a final decision next month.