Date: 7/19/11
Contact: Edwin Lyngar
Phone: (775) 688-1548

OUI CHECK POINT SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEKEND

An Operating Under the Influence (OUI) Check Point has been scheduled this weekend on Lake Mohave.

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.

"Driving a boat drunk is just as dangerous as driving a car under the influence," said David Pfiffner, boating law administrator for NDOW. "Every year we see many accidents and boating fatalities that are tied to boating under the influence. If we were able to get every drunken boater off the water, many lives could be saved."

An OUI check point 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 check point 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.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and 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.