This past weekend, the Missouri State Water Patrol participated in “Operation Dry Water,” a national campaign to discourage the operation of boats by intoxicated operators. The June campaign encouraged states to increase their presence on waterways by using check points and saturation patrols to reduce drug and alcohol impairment on the water.
The Missouri State Water Patrol conducted special enforcement operations in three locations around the state. Sobriety check points were set up on Table Rock Lake and Lake of the Ozarks. A saturation patrol was conducted on the Niangua River in Dallas and Laclede counties.
Results of special enforcement operations:
• 6 arrests for boating while intoxicated
• 16 citations for drug violations
• 13 arrests for minors in possession of alcohol
• 11 citations for other safety violations
• 45 warnings were issued for safety violations
In 2008, a national study showed 17 percent of boating fatalities involved an operator who was impaired by drugs or alcohol.
Last year in Missouri, there were 17 boating fatalities, four of which involved alcohol.
