Lake-area law enforcement ramps up efforts for holiday weekend
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s counting period for the Memorial Day holiday weekend kicked off at 6 p.m. Friday.
“Every available trooper will be on the road or on the water, enforcing Missouri laws and assisting those in need. Troopers on the roadways will focus their attention on hazardous moving violations, speed violations, and impaired drivers. The Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) during Memorial Day weekend,” a press release from MSHP says.
The period runs through 11:59 p.m. Monday.
Whether it’s on the boat or on the water law enforcement expects the weekend to come with its challenges, especially at the Lake of the Ozarks, a summer hot spot for many travelers in the Midwest.
Marine State Trooper Dylan Green and Camden County Sgt. Stephen Riner said driving and boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be the biggest thing they are looking for.
“Usually what we’re seeing is the slurred speech, the inability to grab the appropriate items that we ask for, such as life jackets or IDs,” Green said.
The signs may change a bit with the different terrain.
“Inconsistent driving behavior, speed up, slow down, the exaggerated swerving, they’ll have their brights on because they’re having trouble seeing and that can be a sign of that type of impairment,” Riner said.
While seatbelts are required in the car, they aren’t required on a boat and neither is wearing a life jacket. However, one life jacket has to be accessible for every person on board, according to Green.
“What is accessibility? Can’t be in a locked compartment,” Green said.
Violators of the life jacket rule could receive a citation or even have their voyage terminated until they have the proper safety gear on board.
Riner urged drivers to reconsider drinking and driving this weekend, and warned sober drivers to stay alert for those that may be impaired on the roadways.
“We live in the age of Uber, Lyft and taxi cabs, please don’t drive. It isn’t worth the risk,” Riner said. “If you are not partaking in any of that and you’re just trying to go to work today or throughout the weekend, be very careful because unfortunately, those people that do take that risk are going to be out.”
Green said boaters should also watch out for debris in the water after recent storms in the Mid-Missouri area.
The release says during last year’s holiday weekend, there were 868 crashes around the state that injured 356 people and killed four. There were 81 people arrested for driving while intoxicated.
MSHP also recorded three boating crashes during last year’s counting period.