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Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter
Garrett County On Wednesday, August 6, at 3:20 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police investigated a personal watercraft (PWC) accident in the main body of Deep Creek Lake near McHenry.
Thomas L. Jackman, 27, of Darnestown was operating a PWC when he struck a PWC operated by Joshua M. Miller, 30, of Washington, D.C. Miller was transported to Garrett Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injures. In addition to both men being charged with failure to obtain a certificate of boating safety education, Jackman was charged with negligent operation of a vessel and Miller was charged with operating a personal watercraft at greater than six knots within 100 foot of another vessel. A court date of Oct. 30 has been scheduled for both men in Garrett County District Court. Northern Garrett County Rescue Squad assisted NRP with the incident.
NRP wants to remind boaters of the following Personal Watercraft Safety Regulations.
You must:
Be at least 16 years of age to operate.
Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.
Carry a certificate of boater safety education if born on or after July 1, 1972.
Maintain 6 knots or slower within 100 feet of another PWC, vessel, shore, pier, piling, bridge structure, abutment or people in the water.
Have PWC equipped with an operating self-circling device or kill switch.
You may not:
Operate above idle speed in water less than 18 inches in depth.
Operate between sunset and sunrise.
Jump, or attempt jumping, the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that vessel.
Disturb waterfowl and wildlife.
Operate in a reckless and/or negligent manner.
Kent County On Monday, August 4, at 7:55 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a Delaware woman with driving while intoxicated at Route 291 and Buckingham Road near Chestertown.
NRP initiated a traffic stop on Paula A. Bennett, 36, of Saint Georges, Del. after observing her driving on Buckingham Road. NRP had checked Bennett earlier while she fished along the Chester River and discovered that her drivers license was suspended. During the course of the traffic stop, Bennett was charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol per se, driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol and driving a vehicle on a suspended out-of-state license. She was released on her signature.
Worcester County On Sunday, August 3, at 9:20 p.m., the Maryland Natural Resources Police charged Patrick F. Miller, 52, of Dunmore, Pa. with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol in the Isle of Wight Bay.
NRP stopped Miller for allegedly turning his vessel in front of the police vessel. The officer slowed his vessel and made evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision. Miller was charged with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and or drugs and negligent operation. He was released on his signature.
August 7, 2008 Contact: Sgt. Ken Turner
410-260-8003 office
kturner@dnr.state.md.usThe Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) 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.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million 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