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JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -- The Missouri State Water Patrol hopes everyone has a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. The first step to ensuring a safe holiday on the water is to be a responsible boater and to practice boating safety. A little common sense and extra preparation will help ensure a trouble free weekend on the water. 

• Make sure your boat is ready for a day on the water by inspecting the required safety equipment and its mechanical system.
• Check that your lifejackets and fire extinguisher are in good working order.
• Check the navigation lights if you plan to be out after dark and keep spare bulbs on the boat.
• Review the Missouri Watercraft manual as a reminder of the laws on the water.

There were a number of laws that went into effect at the end of last summer. Anytime you encounter an emergency vessel displaying flashing lights you must be at idle speed within 100 feet of that vessel.  Remember the legal blood alcohol content on the water has dropped to 0.08%.  It is best to designate a driver that will not be drinking. Since alcohol has played a significant role in many drownings it is important for swimmers and boat passengers to also limit alcohol consumption on the water.

Be courteous and have extra patience this weekend. Any holiday weekend will have additional boating traffic. Keep an extra look out for other boats and allow for plenty of room. If your boat creates a larger wake please be courteous around docks and restricted channels of navigation. Be mindful of buoys and take the extra time to clear smaller coves before throttling up. Missouri law requires boats to be at idle speed within 100 feet of docks on lakes of the state.
 
Last year over the Memorial Day weekend Water Patrol officers investigated 13 boating accidents. There were four injuries as a result of those accidents.  There were no boating fatalities but one drowning occurred over Memorial Day weekend 2008.

The Water Patrol will have all available officers working extra hours to ensure a safe holiday weekend. Have a great Memorial Day weekend and please take the time to remember the men and women of the U.S. military who died while serving our country.

Watch the Missouri State Water Patrol homepage at http://www.mswp.dps.mo.gov/ for updates on Boating Safety Courses in your area.