ANNAPOLIS - With near perfect weather during four of the five days this July Fourth holiday weekend, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) reported today that they made 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.”