The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Department of Conservation conducted a saturation of the Niangua River in Dallas County Saturday. The goal of the enforcement operation, according to the patrol, was to detect intoxicated boaters and other violations that contribute to boating crashes and drowning.
There were 31 contacts during the operation, which resulted in 14 boating citations. Those included four minor in possession violations, one misdemeanor drug paraphernalia arrest, one intoxicated minor arrest, one personal flotation device violation, one littering/unsecure trash violation, one possession of glass container violation and one marine equipment violation. Twenty-eight warnings were issued.
The site was chosen based on the high number of drinking and impairment-related boating crashes as well as reported behavioral problems, illegal drug use and underage alcohol consumption, according to the Highway Patrol.
