Missouri's Operation Dry Water Nabs 20 Intoxicated Boaters

June 28, 2011
Officers with the Missouri Highway Patrol’s (MHP) Water Patrol Division repor they netted 20 intoxicated boaters on Missouri lakes over the weekend. According to a news release from MHP, two special operations were conducted over the weekend in conjunction with the national “Operation Dry Water” campaign, along with several other checkpoints on Missouri’s water. This is the third year the department has participated in the campaign, which is aimed at raising boater awareness of safe boating and reducing intoxicated vessel operation through education and enforcement efforts.
Vessel sobriety checkpoints were set up on two Missouri lakes on Saturday for two hours in the afternoon, from 4 to 6 PM. On the Lake of the Ozarks, at the fourth mile of the Grand Glaize arm, officers made seven arrests and issued 16 warnings for other safety violations after checking103 boats. At Table Rock Lake, near the Highway 13 Bridge, three arrests were made for intoxicated boaters, while 27 warnings and two citations were issued for safety violations. Over the two-hour period, 71 vessels were stopped at the checkpoint.
The department will continue to crack down over the next several months on operators who choose to indulge in alcohol.
The Missouri boat accident lawyers with Cofman Townsley are encouraging anyone choosing to include alcohol in a day on the boat to designate a sober skipper to operate the vessel. This is the best way to ensure that the outing remains fun and safe.