The News Room [News Release]
Sheriff Contact: John Roach: 313-224-0615
Release Date: Thursday, May 27, 2004
Sheriff cracking down on boaters who operating under the influence
of alcohol --- Marine Division will step up enforcement this
year
This weekend marks the beginning of boating season in metro Detroit,
and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division plans
to make sure the season is a safe one.
Sheriff Warren C. Evans is planning an increased crackdown on
people who operate recreational watercrafts under the influence
of alcohol. It is estimated that half of all boating accidents
are alcohol related.
“We want people to have fun this boating season, but above
all, we want them to do it safely,” said Evans. “I
have instructed our marine officers to be extra vigilant in enforcing
alcohol laws on the water.”
Under state law, boaters are allowed to drink alcohol, as long
their blood alcohol limit does not exceed 0.10 percent. The legal
limit in Michigan for boaters did not go down to .08 last October
as it did for motorists, however legislation is circulating in
Lansing that would bring the legal limit for boaters down to .08
percent as well, perhaps later this season.
“The limits may be different, but the penalties are the
same,” Evans said.
The penalty for a first offense of Operating Under the Influence
of Liquor [OUIL] is a maximum $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.
A second offense could bring a $1,000 fine and up to one year in
jail or significant community service. A person caught for the
third time could face felony charges and possible prison time,
Evans said.
The Sheriff’s Office will have seven boats in its marine
division, and will spend much of its time focusing on the county’s
primary waterway – the Detroit River – including areas
of Lake St. Clair at the north end and Lake Erie at the south.
“Patrolling our 38 miles of international waterway has become
even more important in recent years for homeland security reasons,
but it is still primarily a recreational waterway,” Evans
said. Nevertheless, Evans said he encourages boaters to serve as
additional sets of eyes and ears on the water and to report any
suspicious activity to the county or US Coast Guard. “By
looking out unusual things such as unoccupied boats near bridges
or industrial areas, recreational boaters can help us identify
potential threats.”
The Marine Division is staffed with seven deputies, specially
trained in marine law enforcement and search and rescue. The unit
performs law enforcement duties as well as search and rescue operations,
boat livery inspections, boat accident investigations, alcohol
enforcement and regatta patrols. Marine officers make about 6,000
stops per year in order to check boat safety.
There are more than 280,000 registered boats in Wayne County.
Evans said each of them represents a potential accident or tragedy
if the operators aren’t cautious.
Some safety tips Sheriff Evans wants all boaters to know are:
- Though it is not illegal, all occupants of a watercraft
should refrain from consuming alcohol while boating
- Have enough life jackets for everyone on board and wear them
at all times
- Make sure life jackets fit properly
- Know your boat’s capacity
- Boats should also be equipped with an adequate fire extinguisher,
horn or whistle, lights or signal flares and a floatation
device with a line attached
Information about boater safety is also on the Marine Division
website at:
:: www.waynecounty.com/mygovt/dps/depts/parks/classes/boatsafe.aspx ::
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