Maryland Natural Resources Police Blotter

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Washington County – On May 30, 2009 at 2:45 pm., the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) investigated a boating accident that occurred on the Potomac River near Williamsport, Md. The boating accident involved two personal watercraft vessels (pwc). A pwc operated by Zachary Joseph Saum of York Springs, Pa. struck the pwc that he was following when it turned in front of him. The operator of the front pwc was transported to Washington County Hospital for minor injuries. Saum was charged with negligent operation of a personal watercraft. A court date has been set for July 21, 2009 in Washington County. Also, Saum was given warnings for operating a pwc at a speed greater than six knots with in 100 feet of another vessel and failure to carry a boater safety card while operating a vessel.

A person may not operate or give permission to operate a personal watercraft on the waters of the State at any time at a speed in excess of 6 knots within 100 feet of another vessel, except when required to maintain speed in a crossing or overtaking situation pursuant to the Federal Inland or International Navigation Rules.

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May 31, 2009

Contact: Sgt. Art Windemuth 410-260-8003 office awindemuth@dnr.state.md.us

The 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