FITCHBURG - Despite a slow-no-wake ordinance in effect on the Madison lakes, state and county officers made ten operating while intoxicated (OWI) arrests over the three-day July 4th weekend.
Department of Natural Resources conservation wardens and Dane County sheriff’s deputies made the arrests on either Lakes Mendota, Monona or Waubesa through normal patrols with no extra personnel from surrounding counties.
“Although boating traffic was light over the weekend due to the (slow-no-wake ordinance), the weather was conducive to boating. I don’t believe we’ve ever had this many OWI arrests on the Madison lakes with normal patrols,” said DNR conservation warden Dave Wood, Fitchburg.
Alcohol was involved in six deaths or 33 percent of the 18 boating fatalities in Wisconsin during 2007. A record 322 intoxicated boating citations were issued last year in Wisconsin.
The penalty for a first OWI offense is $438 and upon conviction, mandatory completion of alcohol assessment and a boating safety course. One person arrested over the weekend would be a three time offender, upon conviction.
The following counties are in the South Central Region: Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, Sauk.
The public affairs manager for the DNR South Central Region is: Greg Matthews: phone - (608) 275-3317.
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