Massachusetts Environmental Police Raise Awareness about Boating Under the Influence

BOSTON_ With summer almost here, the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) are stepping up efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence (BUI) by holding BUI training events for law enforcement officers, as well as increasing the effort to detect intoxicated boaters on the Commonwealth’s waterways.

“While boating is typically a safe and fun form of recreation, the fun is easily ruined when drugs and alcohol are involved,” said MEP Director Colonel Aaron Gross. “We would rather arrest people than have to tell their families they’re never coming back.”

From June 17 to 19, MEP will host a Boating Under the Influence Detection and Enforcement training course for local, state and federal marine law enforcement officers. Each day officers will attend courses covering a variety of topics, such as detection, field sobriety tests, and legal considerations. The training course will take place at the Plymouth County Sherriff’s Department Training Center.

In addition, on the weekend of June 26-28, MEP, United States Coast Guard and other marine law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts and across the country will carry out “Operation Dry Water,” during which law enforcement agencies will intensify their efforts to detect boat operators who are operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol with focused enforcement patrols and breath tests throughout the Commonwealth’s recreational waterways.

MEP warns boaters that operating a recreational vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Content of .08 percent or higher is against the law in Massachusetts, as it is under most state and federal laws. Not only does alcohol impair a boater’s judgment, balance and reaction time, but it also increases fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion, which are common to the boating environment, can intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs and some medications. People convicted of boating under the influence could face penalties such as fines, impoundment of their boats, loss of boating and/or motor vehicle driving privileges, and possible jail time.

For more information about boating safety and boating safety course in your area visit: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/boatrvsafe.htm

Members of the media are invited to attend the training course and Operation Dry Water.

Boating Under the Influence Detection and Enforcement Training Course

WHAT:

MEP will hold a boating under the influence detection and enforcement training course. The course is sponsored by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and will train marine law enforcement officers in a variety of detection, legal and logistical subjects related to enforcing boating under the influence laws. The course will cover detection and general deterrence, legal consideration, note taking and testimony, field sobriety tests, evaluation of volunteer drinking subjects, processing the arrested subject, preparing for trial and logistical planning. The training also includes a live alcohol detection workshop.

WHO:

Active local, state or federal marine law enforcement officers

WHEN:

June 17-19, Starts at 8 a.m. daily

WHERE:

Plymouth County Sherriff's Department Training Center

24 Long Pond Road

Plymouth, MA 02360

DIRECTIONS:

From Boston: Take I-93South to exit 7. Take MA-3 South towards Braintree. Keep left at the fork to merge onto MA-3 South. Continue for about 30 miles. Take exit 5 for Long Pond Road (Toward College Pond.) Keep right at the fork to continue toward Long Pond Road.

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Office of Law Enforcement – also known as the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) – is responsible for enforcing the Commonwealth’s fish and game and boating and recreational vehicle laws. MEP officers enforce laws and regulations related to the protection of natural resources and public parks and land; boat and recreational vehicle use; and hazardous waste disposal. MEP officers serve as stewards of the state’s natural resources, patrolling forests, parks, inland waterways and coastal waters throughout the Commonwealth.