Missouri State Water Patrol
Department of Public Safety
Governer
Mel Carnahan
Director
Gary B. Kempker
Alcohol and boating
Over 1200 people die in boating accidents each year.
Over 50% of those fatalities are alcohol related.
90% of the alcohol related fatalities are from drowning.
The effects of alcohol on a person while boating can be devastating. Alcohol effects your balance,vision,judgement, and coordination. Research has shown that alcohol, combined with boating stressors, can impair a person three times faster than alcohol consumption on land. The combination of boating stressors(which fatigue the body)and body dehydration,combine with the debilitating effect of alcohol to neutralize"learned" body functions.
Alcohol severely dimineshes your ability to react to several different signals from the brain at one time(learned functions). With the first drink, alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream and your brain functions are surpressed. It starts taking longer for information to be processed by the brain and the more you drink, the more affected you become. The more affected you are,the longer it takes for what you see,hear,smell,and feel to register with any meaning.
Alcohol isn't the sport...Boating is! Limit your alcohol consumption to one drink or less per hour. Always eat before you drink and sip your drinks instead of gulping them. Remember, boating stressors alone can kill. Alcohol only speeds up the process.
Blood Alcohol Content
12 oz. of beer=5 oz. of wine=1 oz. 80 proof liquor.
With 2.1 drinks in two hours, a 100 pound person becomes impaired, when it takes a 240 pound person 4.1 drinks in 4 hours to become impaired.
With 4 drinks in 4 hours, a 100 pound person becomes intoxicated, while a 240 pound person will become intoxicated after 7 drinks in 7 hours.
Note: For every 18 degree increase in air temperature(above room temperature) the body's absorption rate for alcohol doubles.
Boating safety courses
The Missouri State Water Patrol offers a five day Water Safety Course during the winter months. This course targets the secondary and high school education systems to teach boating and water safety to future boaters. The five day course is recognized by the U.S. Coast Gaurd and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. A certificate of completion is issued to any student making a passing grade on the final exam.
Missouri Watercraft Registration
BOATS
Pior to use on the water, all vessels powered by machinery, and all sailboats over twelve feet(3.66 meters) in length are required to have a Certificate of Number(registration) issued by the state. The fee for registering a vessel is:
CLASS A- $10.00
CLASS 1- $20.00
CLASS 2- $30.00
CLASS 3- $40.00
Vessel registrations are good for a period of three years and expire on June 30th of the third year(Expiration year is displayed on the decal face and the certificate of number). Vessel registrations must be renewed after three years to remain in effect.
All vessels belonging to non-residents of Missouri must be registered in their principle state of use as required. All vessels registered with another state,but have been kept in Missouri for more than sixty consecutive days, must obtain a Missouri registration.
MOTORS
All "outboard" motors, regardless of horsepower(including electric trolling motors), are required to be registered with the state. The fee for registering an outboard motor is $2.00 and the registration is permanent as long as ownership is not changed.
All outboard motors belonging to non-residents of Missouri must be registered in their principle state of use as required. All outboard motors from another state(whether registration with that state is required or not) that have been kept in Missouri for more than 60 consecutive days, must obtain a Missouri registration.
Missouri State Water Patrol
Colonal Larry Whitten-COMMISSIONER
Major James Glover-FIELD SERVICES MAJOR
P.O. Box 1368
Jefferson City, MO, 65102
(573)751-3333(TDD)
Twenty-four hour on-call service
Other Agency Information
There may be need for you to contact agencies other than the State Water Patrol in an emergency situation or for information in general. The following is a partial listing of agencies that may be able to assist you.
State Wide Agencies
Missouri State Highway Patrol
1510 East Elm Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-3313
Missouri Conservation Dept.
2901 West Truman Blvd.
Jefferson City, MO 65109
(573) 751-4115
U.S. Army Corp of Engineers management offices in Missouri
Bull Shoals Lake-(501)445-4571
Clearwater Lake-(573)223-7777
Long Branch Lake-(816)358-2108
Norfork Lake-(501)898-3343
Mark Twain Lake-(573)735-4097
Pomme De Terre Lake-(417)745-6411
Smithville Lake-(816)532-0174
Stockton Lake-(417)276-3113
Table Rock Lake-(417)334-4101
Truman Lake-(816)438-7317
Wappapello Lake-(573)222-8562
Agencies in surrounding states
Arkansas
Game and Fish Commission
Boating Safety Section
No. 2 Natural Resources Dr.
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501)223-6379
Illinois
Dept. of Natural Resources
Division of Law Enforcement
524 South Second Street
Springfield, IL 62701-1787
(217)782-6431
Iowa
Dept. Of Natural Resources
Enforcement Bueau
Wallace State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515)281-8690
Kansas
Dept. of Wildlife and Parks
Division of Law Enforcement
512 SE 25th Avenue
Pratt, KS 67124
(316)672-5911
Kentucky
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Divison of Water Patrol
#1 Game Farm Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502)564-3074
Nebraska
Game and Parks Law Enforcement Division
2200 North 33rd Street
P.O. Box 30370
Lincoln, NE 68503-0370
(402)471-0641
Oklahoma
Dept. of Public Safety
Lake Patrol
P.O. Box 11415
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0415
(405)425-2143
Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency
Ellington Agriculture Center
P.O. Box 40747
Nashville, TN 37204
(615)781-6594
Questions about Federal Documentation???
If you have any questions about Federal Documentation of a vessel, you will need to contact the U.S. Coast Gaurd at 800-799-8362. This number is for the National Documentation Headquarters in West Virginia. All documentation procedures are handled through that office.
Questions about Federal boating law???
If you have any questions regarding federal law pertaining to watercraft operation contact:
Second Coast Guard District
1430 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO 63103-2378
(314)539-3971
Back to JCP&R Getaway Page
Back to T.C.F.C. Main Page
Email: tcfc6120@aol.com
