Expect Boating Sobriety Checks

Major Thomas E. Roam, director of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Water Patrol Division, says his agency will be setting up sobriety check points along the states waterways to cut down on intoxicated vessel operators. Vessel sobriety checkpoints will be done throughout the 2011 boating season. Sobriety checkpoints are conducted to increase the boating public’s awareness of the potential hazards of operating a boat while intoxicated, maximize enforcement efforts in deterring impaired boating, remove intoxicated boaters from Missouri waterways, and reduce fatalities and injuries through vigorous enforcement of the state’s boating laws. just over half of last years’ boating fatalities involved alcohol. Boat operators with a blood alcohol content on .08% will be arrested for boating while intoxicated.