Multi-Agency OUI Checkpoint Slated For Weekend

KINGMAN, Ariz. –– The Arizona Game And Fish Department will be part of a multi-agency enforcement effort on the Colorado River system this weekend, checking for individuals operating under the influence (OUI).

Arizona Game and Fish, Mohave County Sheriff, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the Kingman Police Department, will be enforcing Arizona's OUI legal limit of a .08 blood-alcohol content.

All boaters passing through the checkpoint will be subject to a systematic safety inspection this weekend. Operators will be checked for alcohol impairment and required safety equipment, such as proper life jackets and working fire extinguishers.

"The responsibility for boating safety among watercraft users is becoming increasingly important on our waterways," said Velma Holt-Buhr, west sector supervisor for Game and Fish Region 3 office in Kingman. "We share these waterways with California and Nevada, which can lead to congestion on the water. As the number of boats on the water increases, so does the potential hazards."

Holt-Buhr advises boaters to review requirements in the regulations and to designate a sober operator prior to launching.

Additional multi-agency OUI checkpoints will occur on the Colorado River and its reservoirs throughout the boating season.

The Arizona Game And Fish Department encourages boaters to take part in a boating education class. Interested parties can look for available classes on the department website, http://www.azgfd.gov.