Maryland Natural Resources Police Remind Boaters to be Safe this Holiday Weekend

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ANNAPOLIS — As Marylanders prepare to take to the state’s waterways this holiday weekend for the traditional start of the boating season, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) urge boaters to exercise caution on the water this summer. And to further ensure their safety, NRP will be conducting an extensive 24-hour enforcement effort statewide entitled Operation Awareness.

Operation Awareness will aggressively target boaters operating in a reckless or negligent manner and/or under the influence of alcohol on the waterways. It will also focus on boaters not maintaining a proper lookout and not having the required safety equipment onboard. Meanwhile, patrols in the parks and forests will target underage alcohol possession and individuals driving under the influence of alcohol, as well as those not practicing proper fire safety or who litter in trash free areas.

“We are hoping all boaters and visitors to our state parks and recreation areas enjoy a safe, pleasurable holiday weekend, said Col. Mark S. Chaney, Superintendent of the NRP. “But boaters and park visitors should also remember to act responsibly and obey Maryland’s laws and regulations to keep themselves and others safe.”

During 2004, the leading causes of boating accidents in Maryland were operator inexperience, excessive speed and not having proper lookout. There were 13 fatalities on Maryland waters last year, nine of which were the result of capsizing or falls overboard.

For more information on safe boating in Maryland, visit the NRP website: www.dnr.maryland.gov/nrp/boatingsafetyedu.html

The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) is an enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources. With an authorized strength of 285 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the NRP provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.

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May 27, 2005

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov