Busy weekend for Water Patrol officers at the Lake

Memorial Day weekend kicks off boating season at the Lake of the Ozarks

Corporal Scott White with the Missouri Highway Patrol said the weekend was a typical Memorial Day weekend at the lake.

He said they made several boating while intoxicated arrests on the water and said the number averages somewhere in the teens.

White said the final numbers for boating while intoxicated on the water as well as 3 small boating crashes.

White said from the Dam to the 35 mile marker near Sunrise Beach was the most crowded, and where most of the arrests were made.

White said he felt the traffic on the Lake this Memorial Day weekend was heavier than last year.

“We’re happy that we didn’t have any fatalities and we’re hoping that we’re getting our message across that safe boating is an important thing and things that may have been acceptable years ago are not acceptable anymore.”

White said the safety of children on the water is something police take very seriously.

Children under 7 years old must have a life vest on at all times on the water.

He said they did write tickets for that this weekend, as well.

Last year on Memorial Day weekend there were also no deaths at the Lake of the Ozarks.

There were 10 deaths on Missouri lakes and rivers last year, total.