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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:9.6pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For Immediate Release                                      Date: Monday, June 26, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Operation Dry Water –It’s all about Impairment</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Marine Board and law enforcement from 32 counties and the Oregon State Police will be participating in Operation Dry Water, during the weekend of June 30- July 2, as part of a nationally
 coordinated effort to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence of intoxicants (BUII).  
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Last year saw a spike in boating accidents, from 62 in 2015 to 82 in 2016, many involving alcohol and marijuana use.  “To help marine officers prepare, we train them to recognize drug
 and alcohol impairment and arrest those operators –including those with paddles,” says Randy Henry, Boating Safety Manager for the Marine Board. 
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Boating under the influence of intoxicants means prescription drugs, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana, or any other substance that impairs a person’s ability to make sound judgments and have
 the ability to safely operate a boat.  The effects of drugs and alcohol are also amplified on the water with the combination of sun, glare, wind, waves and other motion.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Impaired boaters can expect to be arrested or face serious penalties.  In Oregon, the consequences of being convicted of BUII include the possibility of jail time, $6,250 in fines and
 loss of boating privileges.  Marine officers can arrest boaters on observed impairment and can legally obtain blood, breath or urine if a boater fails field sobriety testing.  So far this year, twelve people have been arrested for BUII and were operating on
 the Willamette River in Benton County, Upper Klamath Lake, Lake of the Woods, Crescent and Odell Lakes, Clackamas River, and Foster and Detroit Reservoirs. 
<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"">“Overall, recreational boating is very safe if boaters wear life jackets, boat sober, and keep a sharp lookout by looking at what’s in front of them and what’s going on around them.  If
 boaters followed these guidelines, accidents would be extremely rare.  So far this year, the pattern for accidents includes impairment, distracted operation and no life jacket,” Henry warns.  Henry goes on to say, “The public is our ally in safe boating. 
 If you see an impaired operator or someone who is operating in a way that threatens others’ safety, call 911 and report it.  That’s how we can work together to save lives.”  
<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 about Operation Dry Water, visit
<a href="http://www.operationdrywater.org">www.operationdrywater.org</a> or the Marine Board’s Boating Safety Program at
<a href="http://www.boatoregon.com">www.boatoregon.com</a>.</span><span class="BalloonTextChar"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<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"">Ashley A. Massey<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Legislative Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Public Information Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Oregon State Marine Board<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">503-378-2623<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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