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
Q6122014 (573) 526-6115

June 13, 2014
EMPHASIS: Highway Patrol Joins 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 27-29, 2014, to detect and apprehend intoxicated operators.

Missouri boat operators found to have a blood alcohol content of .08% or greater 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.

Last year, more than 6,200 officers from 513 local, state, and federal agencies participated in 72 hours of heightened BWI enforcement known as Operation Dry Water. Officers removed 290 BWI operators from the water while issuing an additional 17,159 citations and warnings. In addition, law enforcement officers made contact with over 144,000 boaters concerning BWI or boating safety enforcement and awareness. From 2009 to 2013, over 1,500 BWI operators have been removed from the water and over 457,500 boaters have been contacted by a law enforcement officer during the Operation Dry Water weekends.

In 2013, troopers arrested a total of 14 people statewide for boating while intoxicated, contacted 747 vessels and 1,405 boaters, and issued 114 boating violation summonses and 482 warnings. Marine operations troopers also issued 82 summonses for non-boating violations during the 2013 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.

In support of "The Drive To ZERO Highway Deaths," the Patrol encourages motorists to protect themselves and their passengers by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Watercraft operators should ensure that everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket. Click It 4 Life And Wear It!!
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