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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-line-height-alt:9.6pt'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For Immediate Release Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><h1 style='margin-top:0in'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=448 height=166 src="cid:image002.jpg@01CD4EEA.B6585B10" align=right hspace=12 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_6"><![endif]><o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Marine law enforcement officers Nationwide <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Gear up for 2012 Operation Dry Water<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Boating fatalities at highest levels since 1998; BUI a leading factor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Recreational boating fatalities last year jumped to their highest levels since 1998 and boating under the influence (BUI) was the leading contributing factor, according to the U.S. Coast Guard’s report, <i>2011 Recreational Boating Statistics</i>. The report comes just weeks before marine law enforcement officers nationwide turn out for Operation Dry Water (ODW), an annual campaign<span style='color:black'> focused on enforcement of BUI laws and educating all boaters about the risks of operating a boat under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Operation Dry Water 2012 will be held June 22-24, just prior to the Fourth of July. </span>Those caught operating a vessel under the influence will find their voyage terminated and their vessel impounded. Penalties may also include arrest, fines up to $6,250 and loss of boating privileges for up to three years in Oregon. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Despite the fact that it is against federal law and Oregon law for a person with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher to operate a boat, BUI continues to be a major problem in the U.S. and accounts for a disproportional number of deaths on the water. Alcohol was a contributing factor in just 6 percent of boating accidents overall, but figured in 16 percent of boating fatalities in 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Operation Dry Water, a multi-agency, education and enforcement initiative launched by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in 2009 in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, puts thousands of local, state and federal marine law enforcement officers on the water just before the Fourth of July to give BUI enforcement high visibility before a holiday known for drinking and boating – and deadly accidents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>"There are huge risks if drinking and boating,” says John Fetterman, law enforcement director for NASBLA and national spokesperson for Operation Dry Water. “These are needless deaths in a recreational activity that is safe and enjoyable when people stay alert and follow the rules.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Officers from all 56 U.S. states, trusts and territories are expected to participate in Operation Dry Water 2012, educating the public and being on the lookout for boat operators who are operating recklessly and/or not complying with marine laws, which can be indicators of alcohol consumption. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>For more information on this annual event, visit <a href="http://operationdrywater.org">http://operationdrywater.org</a> or the Marine Board’s website at <a href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/BoatLaws/pages/index.aspx">http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/BoatLaws/pages/index.aspx</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>###<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Ashley A. Massey<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Public Information Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Oregon State Marine Board<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>503-378-2623<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><a href="mailto:Ashley.massey@state.or.us">Ashley.massey@state.or.us</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.boatoregon.com/"><span style='color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=52 height=52 id="_x0000_i1029" src="cid:image003.jpg@01CD4EEA.B6585B10" alt="Description: cid:image001.jpg@01CC4556.A6D3E3B0"></span></a><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/boatoregon"><span style='color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=44 height=44 id="il_fi" src="cid:image004.png@01CD4EEA.B6585B10" alt="Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: http://static.technorati.com/10/09/17/18465/Facebook-icon.png"></span></a><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><a href="http://twitter.com/marineboard"><span style='color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=44 height=44 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image005.jpg@01CD4EEA.B6585B10" alt="Description: Description: Description: http://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/system/images/thumbs/www/articles_2009_10_09/twitter_logo_300x300.jpg?1273889336"></span></a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MarineBoard"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=42 height=42 id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image006.jpg@01CD4EEA.B6585B10" alt="Description: YouTubeIconeMail"></span></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <img border=0 width=90 height=90 id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image007.jpg@01CD4EEA.B6585B10" alt="Description: SharePointQRCodeEmail"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>