Plenty of boaters are expected to be out on Lake Hopatcong this Labor Day holiday – and state police are warning them that they will be out there too.

Two State Police boats, as well as crews from Morris County, will be patrolling New Jersey’s biggest lake during the holiday weekend.

“We’re kind of out here doing almost a community policing thing,” says Sgt. Jorge Puhlovsky. “Just making sure everybody knows the rules.”

The speed limit on the lake this holiday weekend is set at 30 mph for boats. The speed limit is lowered to 10 mph once the sun goes down.

“When there’s a lot of boats, this place starts to churn up. The water gets rougher. There’s a lot of boats going back and forth so their wakes make it almost like a high seas,” Puhlovsky says.

Alcohol is allowed to be consumed on the boat, but the boat operator is not allowed to be impaired.

"Usually they'll have one person who doesn't drink at all. They'll drive the boat, they're certified, have the boater safety certificate, everything they need to operate the vessel,” the sergeant says.

No wake zones will also be strictly enforced.

"It means you don't leave one of those waves like the waves that goes behind the boat.  That's what it means.  It means no wake, no wave,” Puhlovsky says.

Lifejackets need to be on board. Passengers under 12 years old need to wear them when the boat is moving.  

Police say that for the most part people follow rules.  Their wildest moment had nothing to do with a human but when there were rumors of an anaconda in the lake.

"Somebody said their cats went missing, things like that but there was no snake,” Puhlovsky says.

Boaters are also reminded that the boats running lights must be kept on after dark.