Maryland Natural Resource Police Report Busy Holiday On Waterways And In State Parks

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Maryland Natural Resource Police Report Busy Holiday On Waterways And In State Parks
ANNAPOLIS — With near perfect weather during four of the five days this July Fourth holiday weekend, the men and women of the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) were kept busy making close to 12,000 boating contacts on state waterways and over 10,000 public lands contacts.

NRP checked 11,866 boaters and performed 3,468 vessel safety inspections over the extended holiday weekend. Officers issued 349 citations and 1,266 warnings on the state’s waterways. Thirteen subjects were arrested for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (a 15 percent decrease from last year) and eight for other criminal acts. NRP also investigated 15 boating accidents (a 73 percent decrease from last year) with no life threatening injuries.

In state parks, NRP made 10,603 public lands contacts, issued 173 citations and 420 warnings. Two individuals were arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and eight for other criminal acts. NRP investigated three accidents in state parks with one fatality.

“Operation Stars and Stripes is just one of many operations the Maryland Natural Resources Police have planned,” said Col. George F. Johnson IV, Superintendent of the NRP. “We will continue our commitment to public safety and environmental conservation enforcement.”
July 6, 20077
The Maryland Natural Resources Police is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 280 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.
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 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 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 12 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.