MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

General Headquarters - P.O. Box 568 - Jefferson City, Missouri 65102


NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Captain J.T. "Tim" Hull
573-526-6115
Q62512-2
June 25, 2012

EMPHASIS: Results Of Missouri State Highway Patrol's Participation In National Effort—Operation Dry Water— Crackdown On Impaired Boaters

Colonel Ronald K. Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the results of enforcement efforts to detect impaired boat operators in conjunction with the national “Operation Dry Water” campaign. This is the fourth year for the national effort to reduce impaired vessel operation by highlighting enforcement efforts. Troopers conducted four special operations over the weekend.

A vessel sobriety checkpoint was conducted near Point #7 on Table Rock Lake at the Kimberling City Bridge, on Saturday, June 23, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Troopers checked 159 vessels during the operation, made three arrests for boating while intoxicated, and issued 13 additional citations and 30 warnings for other safety violations.

A boating while intoxicated saturation was conducted on the Black River in Reynolds County on Saturday, June 23. There were no arrests for boating while intoxicated. However, troopers issued 31 citations for other safety violations.

A boating while intoxicated saturation was conducted on the Current River in Shannon County on Sunday, June 24. There were no arrests for boating while intoxicated. However, troopers issued 24 citations and one warning for other safety violations.

Vessel sobriety checkpoints were conducted also on the Meramec and Missouri rivers in Phelps, Pulaski, Crawford, Dent and Franklin counties. The checkpoints were conducted on Sunday, June 24, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. There were no boating while intoxicated arrests made. Troopers issued one citation and 11 warnings for other safety violations.

Including those made during the four special operations, 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.

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