Fewer Boating Accidents; No Fatalities Reported
A safety-conscious public and a concerted effort by Maryland Natural Resources Police kept the Memorial Day weekend free of fatalities and with just four reported boat accidents.
“We did everything in our power to be visible, to interact, to educate,” Natural Resources Police Superintendent Colonel Robert K. “Ken” Ziegler Jr. said. “Our officers spoke with nearly 18,000 boaters, anglers and state park visitors. Together, with our reserve officer force, they conducted more than 2,400 free boat inspections across the state.”Boating accidents declined 55 percent this Memorial Day weekend compared to the same period last year and none of the mishaps resulted in life-threatening injuries. Two incidents involved boats capsizing on Chesapeake Bay tributaries, one was a minor tubing accident on Deep Creek Lake and the fourth occurred as a boat docked at Smallwood State Park.
Statewide, officers responded to 620 calls for service, a five percent increase over 2015. They arrested 15 people for impaired boating or impaired driving, compared to seven arrests last year. They wrote a total of 402 tickets and 1,297 warnings for all offenses, increases over last year of four percent and 17 percent respectively.
Officers worked with allied agencies, such as the U.S. Coast Guard and local police and fire marine units, to be a highly visible presence on the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic coastal bays, and rivers and tributaries.
Ziegler said the strategy this year is to get the boating season off to a good start that can be sustained through Labor Day. Last year, 21 people died in boating accidents, a 20-year high. Only three of the victims were wearing life jackets.
“We aren’t doing this to rack up tickets or generate revenue,” he said. “We are doing this to keep our citizens and visitors safe so that they can continue to enjoy Maryland’s lands and waters.”
The safety campaign will continue June 24-26, with Operation Dry Water, a nationwide crackdown on alcohol- and drug-impaired boaters. Natural Resources Police will once again partner with other maritime law enforcement agencies to patrol waterways from Deep Creek Lake to the Atlantic Ocean.
Fewer Boating Accidents; No Fatalities Reported, but not for a lack of trying.
ReplyDeleteThe Gestapo is now promoting the stopping and searching of THOUSANDS of INNOCENT (read that again, Heinrich) boaters and their families as "free boat inspections".
ReplyDeleteThe overwhelming (read that again, Heinrich) don't WANT your "fee boat inspections", don't want to be interrupted in their day by armed agents ready to shoot or "up the game" for any of "we, the people who don't show "respect" and "compliance" when being boarded to see IF, MAYBE, PERHAPS, in SOME WAY we are criminals.
See a crime? Go get 'em.
Don't see anything but a dad and his sons fishing, a man and wife just have a nice day on the water? Leave them the hell alone.
They didn't call you for help and believe this --- they don't want you there and don't NEED you there, and finally, don't like you even being around.
Being free from warrant-less searches and being secure in your person and papers is ANOTHER right that you lemmings have so cheerfully surrendered because someone with a gun and a badge or an official title thinks they know whats good for you (and cannot wait to show you the "right way").
All you wanted to do was fish your favorite fishing spot with your kids, but you can't until the roaming Gestapo patrols say it's okay.
The hanging list grows ever longer by the day.
PLEASE stop cheering when they say there were no fatalities and claim it was THEIR vigilance and sacrifice that made it happen.
THAT is the biggest line of bulls*** heard so far this year. And you eat it up like its the most delicious dessert you've ever had....
Notice how they track the percentages and how they've INCREASED??
Some hard charging, take-no sh** from any civilian who talks back, waterborne storm trooper is getting a trophy, a plaque, and a promotion for the rights he was able to violate with impunity.
If you exhibit NO criminal activity, but can be stopped and searched at any time while driving on the road or on the water, how long do you think random HOUSE searches (the reasoning is the same) will be necessary for "our protection"?
I know....it could never happen here......