Date: 8/8/08
Contact: Nick Duhe
Phone: (702) 486-5127, ext. 3430

BOATERS TARGETED AT OUI CHECKPOINT

An Operating Under the Influence (OUI) Checkpoint has been slated for sometime this weekend, August 9 or 10, on Lake Mojave.

An OUI check point is a law enforcement tool used to check sobriety levels for boaters returning after a day on the lake. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), the National Park Service (NPS) and Arizona Game & Fish will be participating in the check point.

“An OUI is just as serious as a DUI and just as dangerous,” said David Pfiffner, supervising game warden for NDOW. “We take these cases very seriously because our statistics show that in half the accidents where boaters are killed, alcohol is a factor. We will arrest any boater with a breath or blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher.”

An OUI checkpoint is one way of physically removing drunken boaters from Nevada waters. They are also a powerful way of educating boaters that Nevada and Arizona are serious about enforcing OUI laws. The checkpoint is designed to be as brief and unobtrusive as possible. In addition to checking for OUI, officers are also checking for safety violations, and boaters can expect citations for failure to carry the required safety equipment.

During a similar checkpoint held earlier this summer on Lake Mead, 142 vessels were checked resulting in five arrests and 28 citations written. Most of the citations were written for insufficient life jackets, unserviceable fire extinguisher and failure to carry Type IV throwable flotation device.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.