Boaters face extra scrutiny

The goal of extra enforcement is to keep waterways safe and enjoyable for everyone, the ODNR says.

Pat Carson is planning for a big Labor Day weekend at Anchor Pointe Marina in Jerusalem Township, including a band at the marina restaurant and plenty of space for boaters going out on Lake Erie.

He just wants all of them to return home safely.

Labor Day signals the traditional end of the summer boating season on Lake Erie, and one of the most dangerous times as well because of the high number of boaters and the increased use of alcohol.

"I would hope people are vigilant [about safety] because there is a greater chance for something to happen," said Mr. Carson, the marina's manager. "We're expecting a large crowd this weekend. This is a good place to see the lake, and we want them to be safe as well."

Boaters and jet skiers can expect beefed-up patrols this weekend by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' watercraft division. The goal of the increased presence will be to keep waterways safe and enjoyable for everyone, said John Wisse, an ODNR spokesman in Columbus.

Going into the weekend, the state has had six fatal boating accidents. Last year, 19 people died from boating accidents and 22 died in 2002.

In Michigan, 29 people died in boating mishaps last year, and 38 died in 2002.

Ohio "is on its way to having the safest boating season on record," Mr. Wisse said.

"You really hate to say that because you never know what can happen this weekend, and we know there will be a lot of people on the water this weekend," he added.

Watercraft officers will make spot checks for life jackets and other safety equipment on boats. Mr. Wisse said officers also will look hard at jet skiers. Those 22 years old and younger using personal watercraft devices must be able to show they have taken appropriate education classes.

Mr. Wisse said alcohol will be a major concern of officers, and they will be looking for signs of excessive drinking, illicit drug use, and boat overcrowding. Under Ohio law, watercraft operators are considered legally impaired if they have a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent.

While drunk driving accounted for 463 people killed on Ohio roads in 2003, lost in those statistics is the number of fatalities from boating accidents.

Accidents on the water, officials said, not only can be deadly, but expensive.

In 1996, Canadian businessman Ollie Mastronardi was convicted in Erie County Common Pleas Court for involuntary manslaughter and received the maximum prison sentence of five to 10 years for the 1995 death of Scott Brabander, 24, of Broadview Heights, Ohio.

Authorities said Mastronardi was drunk when he slammed his racing boat into a fishing boat, with Mr. Brabander inside, which was docked at Kelleys Island.

Mastronardi was released in 1999 on four years' "shock probation," but returned to prison in late 2000 after violating a condition that he stay away from gambling casinos.

Mastronardi was ordered to pay $4 million by a civil jury in Erie County in 1997 in the Brabander case.

Boaters seem to be getting the message.

In 2001 and 2002, 17 boating fatalities were related to alcohol. In 2003 and this year, four accidents have been attributed to alcohol.

State watercraft officers made 76 arrests in 2003 for operating a boat under the influence, and a record 100 arrests were made during 2002.

"I think [the drop in alcohol-rated accidents] is a combination of law enforcement and education," Mr. Wisse said. "Another thing we're seeing - and I'm getting this from the boating community itself - is that drinking and boating is becoming less socially acceptable. I think we're starting to see a changing attitude about drinking and boaters."

Mr. Wisse said he didn't think high gas prices will affect the number of boaters on the water. He said since poor weather kept many boaters on shore last weekend, he expects many to take advantage of the long weekend.

"[Gas prices] will affect what they will do, but it won't keep them off the water," Mr. Wisse said. "Instead of staying on the water three days, they will stay on for two. Others boaters may decide to stay closer to the marina because of gas, and then there are some where it won't make any difference at all."

Mr. Wisse said the weather, rather than higher gas prices ,will play a bigger role in how many boaters take to Lake Erie. Forecasters are predicting isolated thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday and scattered storms on Monday.

Contact Clyde Hughes at:

chughes@theblade.com

or 419-724-6095.