For further information please contact: Sgt. Jerry Callahan
573-751-3313
WPD20110620
June 20, 2011

EMPHASIS: Highway Patrol Set To Participate In National Effort To Crackdown On Impaired Boaters

Major Thomas E. Roam, director of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Water Patrol Division, announces the 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 be focusing efforts over the weekend of June 24-26 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. When impaired by alcohol or drugs, boating crashes are more deadly for boaters. Last year in Missouri, just over half of the fatal boating crashes had alcohol as a contributing factor.

Boating in Missouri is a fun and enjoyable experience for the vast majority of the boating public. To ensure the safety for all people on the water, boaters should designate a sober operator for their vessel anytime their plans will include alcohol.

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