Louisiana Wildlife Agents Arrest 19 for Alleged DWI on the Water
(KMDL-FM) Summertime in Louisiana means fun in the sun and time on the water. For a lot of Louisiana residents, that was the perfect recipe for a great July 4th holiday weekend. But just like their counterparts in law enforcement on land, the agents of Louisiana's Department of Wildlife did not take extra time off for the holiday weekend; they spent those days working hard to help keep us safe from ourselves.
The extra attention to detail for the long holiday weekend by agents of LDWF was code-named Operation Dry Water. It was part of a national initiative by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, Operation Dry Water Weekend. In a nutshell, the plan, nationwide, was to put as many agents on the water over the holiday weekend as possible to maintain a vigil for boaters who might be impaired.
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DWI is often referred to as BUI when the persons involved are operating a watercraft. The DWI is Driving While Intoxicated, and BUI is Boating Under the Influence. In either case, the penalties and punishments are very similar. An arrest on those charges can result in potential jail time, fines, and loss of operational privileges. And yes, a BUI goes against your record for DWI offenses.
Louisiana Agents Arrest 19 on DWI While Boating Charges Over the July 4th Weekend
Regardless, more than a dozen boat operators did not get the memo that drinking and boating don't mix because LDWF agents made 19 arrests involving boaters under the influence over the long three-day weekend.
Agents from LDWF also investigated seven non-fatal boating crashes over the holiday period. Two of those boating incidents were believed to have involved operators who were doing so under the influence.
In one such crash, both the boat operator and his passenger were thrown from the watercraft. The unoccupied boat then ramped itself up onto a barge. Agents investigating that crash determined that the boat's operator was under the influence, and appropriate charges were filed.
The following list of individuals and the charges levied against them was made public by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife. All persons are presumed innocent until found guilty by a court of law.
On July 4, Agents Arrested the Following Individuals for DWI in Louisiana:
Neal J. Duval, 48, of Morgan City, on Lake Palourde in St. Martin Parish.
Garrett C. Amadore, 27, of Lumberton, Texas, on Bayou Ramos in St. Mary Parish.
Darrell P. Borne, 43, of Belle Rose, on Lake Verret in Assumption Parish.
Michael H. Mclendon, 35, of Homer, on Lake Claiborne in Claiborne Parish.
Collin Copponex, 22, of Prairieville, on the Blind River in Livingston Parish.
James Norman, 32, of Ponchatoula, on the Tickfaw River in Livingston Parish.
Kacy Burke, 37, of Seward, Ark., on the Tchefuncte River in St. Tammany Parish.
Dylan Trahan, 30, of Gueydan, on the Mermentau River in Jefferson Davis Parish.
Those arrests were made on Friday. The following day, July 5th, agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife found more people in violation of the law while operating a watercraft on the state's waterways.
On July 5, Agents Arrested the Following Individuals for DWI in Louisiana:
Rhett L. Ducote, 36, of Hessmer, on Larto Lake in Catahoula Parish.
Patrick J. Marcantel, 48, of St. Amant on Lake Palourde in St. Martin Parish.
Joshua D. Boaz, 38, of Grand Saline, Texas, on Four Mile Bayou in St. Martin Parish.
Peyton Wafer, 22, of Dubberly, on Lake Bisteneau in Webster Parish.
Lance Whittington, 25, of Hammond, on the Tickfaw River in Livingston Parish.
James Jones, 42, of Central, on the Tickfaw River in Livingston Parish.
Agents were once again on the water on Sunday, July 6, as part of Operation Dry Water in Louisiana, and the following arrests and charges were made on that day by agents of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife.
On July 6, Agents Arrested the Following Individuals for DWI in Louisiana:
Christopher Parodi, 34, of Belle Chasse, on Myrtle Grove Canal in Plaquemines Parish.
Ryan Swilley, 27, of Denham Springs, on the Tickfaw River in Livingston Parish.
Tristan M. Guidry, 29, of Coral Springs, Florida, in Henderson Bay in St. Martin Parish.
According to the LDWF website, the following consequences can be expected by anyone who is cited for DWI either on land or on the water:
(That individual) will lose his or her driver's license and boating privileges for the specified time ordered by the judge in the case. Also, each offense of operating a vehicle or vessel while intoxicated counts toward the total number of DWI crimes, whether they happened on the water or road.
In Louisiana, a DWI can be issued to anyone operating a moving vessel or vehicle while impaired. First offense DWI carries a $300 to $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail.
Of course, the worst-case scenario for any DUI, BUI, or DWI scenario is a fatal crash. Especially a crash that takes an innocent life. In that case, the individuals you see listed above should consider themselves to be fortunate. No matter whether you're on the water or in the truck, don't drink and drive, and if you do drink, designate a sober driver. We'll all be better off for it.
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Gallery Credit: Jess Rose