MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
A Division Of The
Department of Public Safety
Public Information and Education Division - PO Box 568 - Jefferson City, MO 65102
NEWS RELEASE
For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
Q6102013-1 (573) 526-6115

June 10, 2013
EMPHASIS: Highway Patrol Set To Participate In National Effort—Operation Dry Water—To Crack Down On Impaired Boaters

Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the Patrol's participation in Operation Dry Water. Operation Dry Water is a national campaign in which marine law enforcement officers from across the country coordinate special patrols during the last weekend in June to achieve a high visibility of boating under the influence enforcement. Troopers will focus their efforts over the weekend of June 28-30, 2013, to detect and apprehend intoxicated operators.

Missouri boat operators found to have a blood alcohol content of .08% will be arrested for boating while intoxicated. A vessel operator with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit runs a significantly increased risk of being involved in a boating crash.

In 2012, 51 states and U.S. territories participated in Operation Dry Water. More than 4,500 officers from 505 local, state, and federal agencies participated in 72 hours of heightened BWI enforcement. Officers were able to remove 337 BWI operators from the water while issuing an additional 14,514 boating safety citations and warnings. In addition, law enforcement officers made contact with over 113,000 boaters concerning BWI or boating safety enforcement and awareness. From 2009 to 2012, over 1,200 BWI operators have been removed from the water and over 313,500 boaters have been contacted by a law enforcement officer during the Operation Dry Water weekends.

Missouri troopers arrested a total of 20 people statewide for boating while intoxicated during the 2012 Operation Dry Water weekend. Special enforcement operations will continue throughout the summer months. Boaters are reminded that designating a sober skipper is always the safest bet if alcohol is going to be included in their boating experience.

The Patrol encourages motorists and watercraft operators to protect themselves by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint and everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket. Click It 4 Life and Wear It!!
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