Morgan City man charged with boating DWI; agents will be on patrol this weekend

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents arrested a Morgan City man for allegedly operating or driving a vessel while impaired June 22 in St. Martin Parish.
Agents arrested Brodie Anslum, 30, on a DWI charge on Bayou Long.
Agents were on patrol on Bayou Long when they observed Anslum operating a vessel. Agents made contact with Anslum and determined that Anslum was impaired.
Agents arrested Anslum for DWI and booked him into the Morgan City Police Department Jail
Fisheries & Wildlife enforcement agents will take part in Operation Dry Water from July 4 to July 6.
During the Operation Dry Water weekend, LDWF agents will be out in force patrolling state waterways for impaired boat operators.
Alcohol can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. It can increase fatigue and susceptbility to the effects of cold-water immersion, the department said.  
Nationwide, alcohol is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents causing 17% of all deaths on the water. Last year, Louisiana reported seven boating fatalities with alcohol playing a role in two of them or 29%. To date this year, Louisiana has had five boating fatalities with alcohol being suspected in two of them, or 40%.
Last year during Operation Dry Water Weekend, LDWF Agents arrested 12 boaters on DWI charges on the water.
In Louisiana, a DWI on the water carries the same penalties and fines as on the road and includes jail time, fines, and loss of driving and boat operating privileges. 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.
LDWF is also encouraging the use of personal flotation devices while on the water this holiday weekend and as a reminder anyone born after Jan. 1, 1984 is required to take a safe boating education course. To take the safe boating education course, please visit: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/boater-education.
Operation Dry Water was started in 2009 and is a joint program involving the LDWF, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the U.S. Coast Guard. More information is available at www.operationdrywater.org.