Oregon Marine Board

Oregon State Marine Board News

Oregon's Recreational Boating Agency

Media Contact: Randy Henry, ext. 247 Home Page: www.osmb.state.or.us

Date: Friday, July 2, 1999

For Immediate Release

Saturation Patrol Yields Stolen Boats, Impaired Boaters

Numerous warnings given to help educate boaters

Twelve marine enforcement officers from eight counties converged for a saturation patrol of Foster and Green Peter reservoirs in Linn County on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 25-27. The goal was to make as many contacts with boaters as possible, perform routine safety checks, check for valid boat registrations, cite alcohol impaired boaters and improve deputy skills.

"This was definitely a success," said Pat Rowland, Law Enforcement Training Coordinator for the Oregon State Marine Board. "We made a lot of contacts, issued a number of warnings to encourage boaters to boat safely and legally, and we even found some stolen boats."

In all, officers boarded nearly 200 boats in the three day effort. Officers found two boats which had been stolen, their operators apparently believing they had purchased legitimate boats. Officers also arrested two boaters for Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants (BUII) and cited 21 boaters for speed, personal flotation device, expired certificate, validation sticker and fishing violations. In addition to those, officers issued 112 warnings for other minor violations.

Officers from Columbia, Jackson, Klamath, Marion, Douglas, Benton and Lane counties assisted Linn County deputies in the patrol. "This was our first saturation patrol of the season," said Rowland. "We have several more planned at high use areas this summer, too. It's important to make sure your boat registration is current, that you have all the required safety pequipment on board and that you operate the boat within the regulations of the water body." Rowland also reminds boaters to not drink and boat - boaters convicted of operating a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol can face hefty fines, jail time and loss of boating privileges for up to three years.

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