2004 Arizona boating safety report |
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Special thanks to the following agencies for their cooperation in providing accident and enforcement data for this report: Arizona Game and Fish Department • azgfd.gov The 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report is provided by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The data and statistics were researched, compiled and written by Connie Giesie and Kevin Bergersen. The information was edited by Linda J. Nofer and graphic design was provided by Carolyn Seay-Greeney. Apache County Sheriff ’s Office Arizona Game and Fish Department Arizona State Parks Bullhead City Police Department Coconino County Sheriff ’s Office Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department Ft. Mohave Tribal Police Department Gila County Sheriff ’s Office Imperial County Sheriff ’s Office Lake Havasu City Police Department La Paz County Sheriff ’s Office Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Office Mohave County Sheriff ’s Office National Park Service Nevada Department of Wildlife Tempe Police Department U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Yavapai-Prescott Tribal Police Yuma County Sheriff ’s Office Boating Law Administrator Kevin Bergersen Law Enforcement Programs Coordinator Phone: 602-789-3383 Fax: 602-789-3945 Email: kbergersen@azgfd.gov Education Ed Huntsman Boating Education Program Coordinator Phone: 602-789-3237 Fax: 602-789-3903 Email: ehuntsman@azgfd.gov Enforcement Ron Day Law Enforcement Branch Chief Phone: 602-789-3307 Fax: 602-789-3945 Email: rday@azgfd.gov Facilities Ron Christofferson Boating Facilities Program Manager Phone: 602-789-3481 Email: rchristofferson@azgfd.gov Public Information Linda J. Nofer Public Information Officer Phone: 602-789-3223 Fax: 602-789-3776 Email: lnofer@azgfd.gov 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report Arizona Game and Fish Department Boating Enforcement and Education Titling and Registration Madelynn Fenske Watercraft Administrator Phone: 602-789-3403 Fax: 602-789-3729 Email: mfenske@azgfd.gov Training Jay Cook Watercraft/OHV Law Enforcement Program Manager, Acting Phone: 602-789-3931 Fax: 602-789-3945 Email: jcook@azgfd.gov Stolen Watercraft Joe Sacco Watercraft Law Enforcement Specialist Phone: 602-789-3382 Fax: 602-789-3945 Email: jsacco@azgfd.gov Watercraft Accident Public Records Connie Giesie Law Enforcement Programs Secretary Phone: 602-789-3380 Fax: 602-789-3945 Email: cgiesie@azgfd.gov azgfd.gov 1 The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, na-tional origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 2221 W. Greenway Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 789-3290, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above. Kevin Bergersen Boating Law Administrator Administrative Authority The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Com-mission have been involved in boating safety and law enforcement since passage of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971. The commission and department derive their authority from state law contained within the Arizona Revised Statutes Title 5. ars 5-311 outlines the powers and duties of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in regard to boating in Arizona. The commission may: 2 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report Arizona Game and Fish Department Watercraft Enforcement and Education 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report An Arizona Game and Fish Department law enforcement officer patrols Willow Beach along the Colorado River. • Make rules and regulations required to carry out in the most effective manner all the provi-sions of this chapter. • Modify the equipment requirements in confor-mity with the provisions of the federal navigation laws or with the navigation regulations promul-gated by the U.S. Coast Guard. • Prescribe additional equipment requirements not in conflict with federal navigation laws or regulations. • Provide for a uniform waterway marking system and establish, operate and maintain aids to navigation and regulatory markers of the state. • Make regulations for the registration and op-eration of watercraft. • Prescribe regulations for the issuance of permits for motorboat races, regattas or other water-craft events. • Administer law enforcement and boating safety programs on the state level, and accept federal grants for the purpose of boating safety and related enforcement. By statute, the Arizona Game and Fish Commis-sion’s boating safety and registration mandates are extremely broad. The department is responsible for providing a safe watercraft recreation environ-ment, so that Arizona’s lakes will be used, enjoyed and appreciated by present and future generations. Watercraft Law Enforcement Although the Arizona Game and Fish Department administers and provides boating law enforcement efforts on a state level, primary law enforcement authority resides with local agencies; state, county, municipal, park, reservation or land management agencies within whose jurisdiction a body of water lies are responsible for watercraft law enforcement. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is the administrative agency for watercraft-related acci-dents in Arizona. Initial reports and investigations are completed by the ju-risdictional agency and submitted to the depart-ment. These reports are then compiled, tabulated and forwarded to the U.S. Coast Guard for use in national statistics. azgfd.gov 3 Lake Havasu City Police Department officers patrol the congested waters of Bridgewater Chan-nel during the 2004 Memorial Day holiday. Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies patrol the Navajo Canyon channel in the summer of 2004. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Number of accidents Operator reports Arizona State Parks Arizona Game and Fish Dept Bullhead City Police Dept Coconino County SO Gila County SO Imperial County SO La Paz County SO Lake Havasu City PD Maricopa County Parks Maricopa County SO Mohave County SO National Park Service Nevada DOW Tempe Police Dept US Fish & Wildlife Yavapai Prescott Tribal Police Dept Agencies Reporting Accidents 254 total accidents Colorado River System Compared to All Other Arizona Waters 254 total accidents Number of accidents All other waters 31% Colorado River system 69% Colorado River System Accidents reported in Arizona Colorado River 46% Lake Powell 18% Lake Mohave 9% Lake Mead 5% 4 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report In 2004, 16 different law enforcement agencies, along with boat operators, reported 254 watercraft-related accidents to the department. This number does not include 25 boat accident reports that did not meet minimum state or U.S. Coast Guard reporting guidelines. Information taken from these accident reports assists Arizona law enforcement agencies in identifying safety needs, developing new regulations, designing new enforcement tech-niques, identifying manufacturer problems and directing programs at particular areas of concern. Law enforcement agencies investigating boating accidents and operators involved in accidents are required by law to report such accidents to the Ari-zona Game and Fish Department. If the accident involves an injury or fatality, a written report must be submit-ted within 48 hours. All other accidents must be reported within five days. According to 2004 statistics, a significant num-ber of boating accidents continue to occur along the Colorado River basin, which includes Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Lake Havasu and stretches of the Colorado River. A number of National Park Service officers investigate a boat accident on Lake Powell in July of 2004. The investigation revealed that the operator was impaired. these accidents were related to the use of drugs and alcohol. In 2004, 11 people died on Arizona waterways and four of the deaths (36 percent) were alco-hol- related. In an effort to re-duce those numbers, federal, state, county and local law enforce-ment agencies have teamed up to conduct operating under the influence (oui) patrol efforts. These special projects include on-the-water oui checkpoints and high-density law en-forcement saturation (wolf pack) patrols involving law enforcement agencies from Arizona, Nevada and California. Statewide, watercraft law enforce-ment officers were very successful in detecting and arresting impaired boat operators. In 2004, Arizona watercraft officers arrested 438 individu-als for operating under the influence, 41 of those arrests occurred during multi-agency oui special projects. Last year, 10 multi-agency oui special project patrols were conducted, during which 995 watercraft with 3009 persons onboard were checked and 298 citations were issued. The boating public azgfd.gov 5 2004 Fatalities 4 out of 11 fatalities were alcohol related 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 Alcohol-related fatalities Nonalcohol-related fatalities Lake Mohave Lake Mead Lake Havasu Granite Creek Colorado River Canyon Lake Bartlett Lake Total Number of Alcohol-related Accidents 254 total accidents 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Total number of alcohol-related Injuries Total number of alcohol-related fatalities Total accidents Involving alcohol Total number of alcohol related fatalities Total number of alcohol related Injuries Total accidents involving alcohol The lone operator-occupant of this Lake Havasu boat was thrown over-board during rough conditions in June 2004. This total may not necessarily reflect the true number of alcohol-related accidents due to a variety of factors, including incomplete or delayed accident reporting, along with delayed victim reporting and/or recovery. has continued to support oui patrol efforts. Similar patrol activities are expected during the 2005 watercraft season. Many boat operators appear to be heeding the message of sober boating on the state’s wa-terways. Watercraft law enforcement officers statewide have reported a marked increase in the percentage of designated sober operators encountered during routine contacts. Drinking while boating continues to be a critical problem and high priority target enforcement objective for officers, but the fact that many boat operators have taken the safe and sober boating message to heart is highly encouraging. Property Damage Over $500 Types of watercraft 0 20 40 60 80 100 Number of vessels Pontoon Personal watercraft Other Open motorboat Houseboat Cabin motorboat 0 20 40 60 80 100 Number of accidents Tempe Town Lake Salt River Saguaro Lake Roosevelt Lake Patagonia Lake Lake Powell Lake Pleasant Lake Mohave Lake Mead Lake Havasu Granite Creek Colorado River Canyon Lake Bartlett Lake Apache Lake Alamo Lake Water Bodies 254 total accidents Water Bodies 118 total injuries and 11 fatalities 0 10 20 30 40 50 Number of fatalities Number of injuries Saguaro Lake Roosevelt Lake Lake Powell Lake Pleasant Lake Mohave Lake Mead Lake Havasu Granite Creek Colorado River Canyon Lake Bartlett Lake Apache Lake Houseboats silhouetted at Apache Lake, Ariz. 6 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report *Passenger fatalities not included Causes of Accidents 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Primary, secondary & tertiary causes Weather (heavy) Wake Rules of the road infraction Restricted vision Passenger skier behavior Other Operator inexperience Operator inattention No proper lookout Fault of machinery Improper loading Hull failure Hazardous waters Excessive speed Equipment failure Congested waters Careless/reckless operation Carbon monoxide Alcohol/drug use Age of Watercraft Operators All accident and vessel types 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Accidents Fatal 56 and over 51 to 55 46 to 50 41 to 45 36 to 40 31 to 35 26 to 30 21 to 25 17 to 20 11 to 16 Watercraft Accidents There were 254 watercraft-related accidents re-ported to the Arizona Game and Fish Department in 2004, a decrease of 35 from 2003. The accidents involved 397 boats, which is a decrease of 37 from the prior year. However, officers saw a substantial increase in the number of fatal accidents last year. Eleven people died in 10 separate accidents, as com-pared to seven deaths from six accidents in 2003. A few of these fatal accidents were unusual or uncom-mon in nature. One of the fatalities was attributed The popularity of Blankenship Bend is reflected in this aerial photo taken at midday in May 2004. Boaters continue to flock in large numbers to this unique sandbar located several miles upstream from Lake Havasu along the Colorado River. azgfd.gov 7 Primary Accident Types 254 total accidents 0 30 60 90 120 150 Primary accident type Struck by motor/propeller Struck by boat Skier mishap Sinking Other Hit and run Grounding Flooding/swamping Fire/Explosion (other than fuel) Fire/explosion (fuel) Falls overboard Fall in boat Collision with vessel Collision with floating object Collision with fixed object Capsizing Primary Causes of Fatal Accidents 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 Number of fatalities Rules of the road infraction Passenger skier behavior Other Operator inexperience Operator inattention Hull failure Hazardous waters Carbon monoxide Alcohol/drug use Primary Causes of Injury Accidents 0 5 10 15 20 25 Number of injuries Weather (heavy) Wake Rules of the road infraction Restricted vision Passenger skier behavior Other Operator inexperience Operator inattention Hazardous waters Excessive speed Careless/reckless operation Alcohol/drug use Residence of Operators All accidents 0 50 100 150 200 Number of vessels Other Utah Nevada Colorado California Arizona Types of Watercraft in Accidents 397 total vessels 0 50 100 150 200 Number of vessels Rowboat/utility Pontoon Personal watercraft Other Open motorboat Houseboat Canoe Cabin Motorboat Length of Watercraft All incidents 0 20 40 60 80 100 Number of vessels 24 ‘ + 22’ to 23’ 20’ to 21’ 18’ to 19’ 12’ to 17’ 9’ to 11’ Types of Watercraft in Accidents 118 total injuries and 11 fatalities 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Injury Fatal Pontoon Personal watercraft Other Open motorboat Houseboat Canoe/rowboat Cabin motorboat 8 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report to carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from “teak surfing.” Two fatalities occurred during a canoe acci-dent in a flood-swollen wash. A fourth death resulted from a heart attack triggered by capsizing and subse-quent cold water immersion at Lee’s Ferry. More encouraging was the decline in the total number of injury boating accidents. In 2004, 118 boaters were injured, representing a reduction of 28 from 2003, when 140 were injured while boating Weather Conditions All accidents 0 50 100 150 200 250 Number of accidents Snow Rain Hazy Fog Cloudy Clear Water Conditions All accidents 0 30 60 90 120 150 Number of accidents Very rough (waves > 6’) Strong current Rough (waves 2’ – 6’) Choppy (wave 6” – 2’) Calm (waves less then 6”) Visibility Conditions All accidents 0 50 100 150 200 250 Number of accidents Poor Fair Good Accidents by Month 254 total accidents 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Number of accidents December November October September August July June May April March February January Accidents by Day of Week 254 total accidents 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Number of accidents Sunday Saturday Friday Thursday Wednesday Tuesday Monday Accidents by Day of Week 118 total injuries and 11 fatalities 0 10 20 30 40 50 Injury Fatal Sunday Saturday Friday Thursday Wednesday Tuesday Monday Accidents by Time of Day 254 total accidents 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Number of accidents 8:01 PM to 12:00 AM 4:01 PM to 8:00 PM 12:01 PM to 4:00 PM 8:01 AM to 12:00 PM 4:01 AM to 8:00 AM 12:01 AM to 4:00 AM azgfd.gov 9 on Arizona waterways. However, $954,343 worth of property and vessel damage was re-ported to the department last year: This is one of the highest numbers on record. Boating continues to be an increasingly popular form of recreation in Arizona. The number of registered watercraft in Arizona has grown from 105,000 in 1986 to 147,294 in 2004. According to the 2003 Watercraft Gas Tax Survey, 3,229,153 total boat use days were reported for Arizona. Arizona boaters made up 44 percent of those days, while California boaters made up 49 percent. Nevada boaters made up most of the remaining 7 percent. The main focus of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s watercraft safety program is the safety of all recreational boaters in Arizona. In analyzing watercraft accident informa-tion, there are five main areas of interest: type and cause of the accident, operator in-formation, boats and equipment involved, environmental conditions at the time of the acci-dent, and time and location of the accident. The two leading causes of accidents for the 11th year in a row in Arizona are operator inexperience and operator inattention. Forty percent of operators involved in Arizona boating accidents were residents of the state and 49 percent were from California. The types of watercraft most often involved in accidents were personal watercraft smaller than 12 Age of Personal Watercraft Operators All accidents 0 5 10 15 20 25 Number of operators Age 51 and older Age 46 to 50 Age 41 to 45 Age 36 to 40 Age 31 to 35 Age 26 to 30 Age 21 to 25 Age 17 to 20 Age 11 to 16 Operator’s Boating Education All accidents 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Number of operators Other Informal American Red Cross US Power Squadrons USCG Auxiliary State course None feet in length and open motorboats 24 feet or more in length. Environmental conditions were not a factor in the vast majority of 2004 accidents. The average accident occurred during the day when weather conditions were usually clear, with calm or choppy waters, and good visibility. The most dangerous month for recreational boating in 2004 was July, with August second, and The operator who provided this breath sample was arrested for extreme OUI. In Arizona, boat operators cannot be impaired to the slightest degree, and the legal alcohol concentration limit for persons in con-trol of a motorized watercraft is .08. 10 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report May third. The months of May, July, and Sep-tember traditionally have high numbers of boating accidents because these months reflect peak boater day use along with the summer’s busiest boating holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. In 2004, 43 percent of all accidents oc-curred between noon and 4 p.m. and Saturday was the day of the week that had the most accidents and injuries. Watercraft Regulations The Arizona Legislature has changed state law in regard to the penalties for oui. Boat operators convicted of oui face increased sanctions and fines ranging from $955 for a first time offense to $2155 for second-time extreme oui convictions. Watercraft Education Education is considered one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of boating accidents. According to 2004 statistics, more than half of the operators involved in recreational boating accidents had not received formal education in boating safety. This was a slight decrease from the 2003 data. The Arizona Game and Fish Department provides an eight-hour boating education course developed for recreational boaters. Many insurance companies offer discounts to those who successfully complete the course as a way to encourage boater education. Currently the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Information and Education Division coordinates Tri-state Colorado River Fatalities 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Number of fatalities Nevada California Arizona the courses, and 87 volunteer boating education instructors from across the state provide class-room instruction. In 2004, the department offered 143 boating education classes in Arizona and 1,959 recreational boaters completed them. This was a 288 percent student increase from 2003, which had 680 students attending 57 classes. The Arizona sections of both the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron also conduct boating education training. U.S. Coast Guard boating safety classes vary from an eight-hour basic safety course to 80 hours of instruction. The U.S. Power Squadron offers a six-chapter boating course as well as a shorter, more intense, three-chapter course. The Arizona Game and Fish Department con-tinues to work with judges around the state to include its boating safety education program as part of sentencing for violators of boating rules and regulations. Judges are encouraged to use the program in lieu of, or in addition to, a fine, to help increase the boat operator’s knowledge of boating safety information and regulations. So far, judges and boating violators have indicated the program has been successful in increasing aware-ness of boating safety issues. azgfd.gov 11 The Lost Eden Waterfall dwarfs a 26-foot Na-tional Park Service patrol boat in July 2004. This side channel on Lake Powell only flows after heavy rains. 12 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report Boating Accident Statistics An area of priority interest to both recreational boaters and law enforcement agencies is the in-creasing number of personal watercraft (pwc) using Arizona waterways. In 1990, there were only 8,168 pwc registered in Arizona, compared to 28,307 in 2004. Currently, pwcs comprise more than 19 per-cent of all Arizona watercraft registrations. However, pwc operators receive a disproportionate amount of injuries compared to other watercraft types. For example, more than 28 percent of all accidents in-volving pwcs result in bodily injuries, and these injuries account for 40 percent of all boating inju-ries. Furthermore, two of the 11 fatalities in 2004 (roughly 18 percent) involved pwcs. These statistics are higher than any other type of watercraft. Many of these accidents can be attributed to the fact that numerous first time operators are renting or have just recently purchased a pwc. A pwc is operated differently than a traditional boat and averages more time on the water than traditional watercraft. The increased use of the Colorado River system from Lake Powell to Yuma is another area of con-cern to the Arizona Game and Fish Department and other law enforcement agencies. Sixty-nine percent of all Arizona watercraft accidents oc-curred along the Colorado River. An increase in law enforcement activity, particularly oui enforce-ment, and a focus on boating education have been shown to help reduce the number of boating acci-dents along the river. This information was compiled from boating accident reports submitted to the Arizona Game and Fish Department by watercraft enforcement agencies and persons involved in watercraft acci-dents throughout Arizona. For more information on boating safety education, call (602) 789-3235. A father and his children take a ride on a personal watercraft at Saguaro Lake in 2003. Arizona Game and Fish Department officers remove an alleged impaired boater from his watercraft and conduct an OUI investigation on Roosevelt Lake in July 2004. National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Arizona’s 2005 Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators devel-oped the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award in 2000 to recognize and honor outstanding service to recreational boating. This award symbolizes the highest level of achievement among boating law enforcement officers in the United States. Each state selects its own officer of the year. The state recipi-ents are eligible for one of three regional awards and the regional recipients compete for the Butch Potts National Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. Officer Tim Baumgarten is a 23-year veteran with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and is currently assigned to the Kingman region as the Law Enforcement Program Manager. Tim is recog-nized throughout Arizona and the western states as one of the top experts and leading authorities in watercraft law enforcement, boat theft investiga-tions, operating under the influence enforcement, and watercraft accident investigations. Tim has personally accounted for more than 100 oui arrests so far in his career, and has assisted fellow officers with hundreds more. Tim was in-volved in the first oui checkpoint in Arizona in 1993, and since then has participated and/or supervised in approximately 70 on-the-water sobriety checkpoints, more than any Arizona watercraft officer. Last year alone, Tim supervised eight Colorado River oui check-points that resulted in 342 citations and 31 oui arrests. Tim is a lead instructor at Ari-zona Game and Fish Department’s annual Watercraft Enforcement Tactics Survival School and has been instructing nationally since 2004 as a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators boating under the influence instructor. He taught oui enforcement at the 2003 International Boating and Water Safety Summit in Las Vegas, Nev. and gave a presenta-tion at the Annual Alcohol Summit put on by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in Arizona. In 1997, Tim received an award of merit from the National Water Safety Congress. Additionally, Ari-zona Game Ranger Fraternal Order of Police recognized him as the 2002 outstanding game and fish officer of the year. azgfd.gov 13 Arizona Game and Fish Department officer Tim Baumgarten Previous Arizona Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year recipients 2004 Jerry Burns, La Paz County Sheriff ’s Office 2003 Deanna Pfleger, Arizona Game and Fish Department 2002 No nominations received 2001 Gerald Duvall, Bullhead City Police Department 2000 Steve Andrews, Arizona Game and Fish Department For information on boating education classes visit azgfd.gov or call the Arizona Game and Fish Department at (602) 789-3235.
Object Description
TITLE | Arizona boating safety report |
CREATOR | Arizona. Game and Fish Dept. |
SUBJECT | Boats and boating--Arizona--Safety measures; Boats and boating--Arizona--Statistics; |
Browse Topic |
Leisure and travel |
DESCRIPTION | This title contains one or more publications. |
Language | English |
Publisher | Arizona. Game and Fish Dept. |
Material Collection |
State Documents |
Source Identifier | GF 1.2:B 51/3 |
Location | ocm77276012 |
REPOSITORY | Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records--Law and Research Library. |
Description
TITLE | 2004 Arizona boating safety report |
DESCRIPTION | 16 pages (PDF version). File size: 658909 Bytes. |
TYPE | Text |
Acquisition Note | Publication or link to publication sent to reports@lib.az.us |
RIGHTS MANAGEMENT | Copyright to this resource is held by the creating agency and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the creating agency. Any attempt to circumvent the access controls placed on this file is a violation of United States and international copyright laws, and is subject to criminal prosecution. |
DATE ORIGINAL | [2004] |
Time Period |
2000s (2000-2009) |
ORIGINAL FORMAT | Born digital |
Source Identifier | GF 1.2:B 51/3 /2004 |
DIGITAL IDENTIFIER | 2004Boating_Safety_Report.pdf |
DIGITAL FORMAT |
PDF (Portable Document Format) |
REPOSITORY | Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records--Law and Research Library. |
Full Text | Special thanks to the following agencies for their cooperation in providing accident and enforcement data for this report: Arizona Game and Fish Department • azgfd.gov The 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report is provided by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The data and statistics were researched, compiled and written by Connie Giesie and Kevin Bergersen. The information was edited by Linda J. Nofer and graphic design was provided by Carolyn Seay-Greeney. Apache County Sheriff ’s Office Arizona Game and Fish Department Arizona State Parks Bullhead City Police Department Coconino County Sheriff ’s Office Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department Ft. Mohave Tribal Police Department Gila County Sheriff ’s Office Imperial County Sheriff ’s Office Lake Havasu City Police Department La Paz County Sheriff ’s Office Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Office Mohave County Sheriff ’s Office National Park Service Nevada Department of Wildlife Tempe Police Department U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Yavapai-Prescott Tribal Police Yuma County Sheriff ’s Office Boating Law Administrator Kevin Bergersen Law Enforcement Programs Coordinator Phone: 602-789-3383 Fax: 602-789-3945 Email: kbergersen@azgfd.gov Education Ed Huntsman Boating Education Program Coordinator Phone: 602-789-3237 Fax: 602-789-3903 Email: ehuntsman@azgfd.gov Enforcement Ron Day Law Enforcement Branch Chief Phone: 602-789-3307 Fax: 602-789-3945 Email: rday@azgfd.gov Facilities Ron Christofferson Boating Facilities Program Manager Phone: 602-789-3481 Email: rchristofferson@azgfd.gov Public Information Linda J. Nofer Public Information Officer Phone: 602-789-3223 Fax: 602-789-3776 Email: lnofer@azgfd.gov 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report Arizona Game and Fish Department Boating Enforcement and Education Titling and Registration Madelynn Fenske Watercraft Administrator Phone: 602-789-3403 Fax: 602-789-3729 Email: mfenske@azgfd.gov Training Jay Cook Watercraft/OHV Law Enforcement Program Manager, Acting Phone: 602-789-3931 Fax: 602-789-3945 Email: jcook@azgfd.gov Stolen Watercraft Joe Sacco Watercraft Law Enforcement Specialist Phone: 602-789-3382 Fax: 602-789-3945 Email: jsacco@azgfd.gov Watercraft Accident Public Records Connie Giesie Law Enforcement Programs Secretary Phone: 602-789-3380 Fax: 602-789-3945 Email: cgiesie@azgfd.gov azgfd.gov 1 The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, na-tional origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 2221 W. Greenway Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 789-3290, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above. Kevin Bergersen Boating Law Administrator Administrative Authority The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Com-mission have been involved in boating safety and law enforcement since passage of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971. The commission and department derive their authority from state law contained within the Arizona Revised Statutes Title 5. ars 5-311 outlines the powers and duties of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in regard to boating in Arizona. The commission may: 2 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report Arizona Game and Fish Department Watercraft Enforcement and Education 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report An Arizona Game and Fish Department law enforcement officer patrols Willow Beach along the Colorado River. • Make rules and regulations required to carry out in the most effective manner all the provi-sions of this chapter. • Modify the equipment requirements in confor-mity with the provisions of the federal navigation laws or with the navigation regulations promul-gated by the U.S. Coast Guard. • Prescribe additional equipment requirements not in conflict with federal navigation laws or regulations. • Provide for a uniform waterway marking system and establish, operate and maintain aids to navigation and regulatory markers of the state. • Make regulations for the registration and op-eration of watercraft. • Prescribe regulations for the issuance of permits for motorboat races, regattas or other water-craft events. • Administer law enforcement and boating safety programs on the state level, and accept federal grants for the purpose of boating safety and related enforcement. By statute, the Arizona Game and Fish Commis-sion’s boating safety and registration mandates are extremely broad. The department is responsible for providing a safe watercraft recreation environ-ment, so that Arizona’s lakes will be used, enjoyed and appreciated by present and future generations. Watercraft Law Enforcement Although the Arizona Game and Fish Department administers and provides boating law enforcement efforts on a state level, primary law enforcement authority resides with local agencies; state, county, municipal, park, reservation or land management agencies within whose jurisdiction a body of water lies are responsible for watercraft law enforcement. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is the administrative agency for watercraft-related acci-dents in Arizona. Initial reports and investigations are completed by the ju-risdictional agency and submitted to the depart-ment. These reports are then compiled, tabulated and forwarded to the U.S. Coast Guard for use in national statistics. azgfd.gov 3 Lake Havasu City Police Department officers patrol the congested waters of Bridgewater Chan-nel during the 2004 Memorial Day holiday. Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies patrol the Navajo Canyon channel in the summer of 2004. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Number of accidents Operator reports Arizona State Parks Arizona Game and Fish Dept Bullhead City Police Dept Coconino County SO Gila County SO Imperial County SO La Paz County SO Lake Havasu City PD Maricopa County Parks Maricopa County SO Mohave County SO National Park Service Nevada DOW Tempe Police Dept US Fish & Wildlife Yavapai Prescott Tribal Police Dept Agencies Reporting Accidents 254 total accidents Colorado River System Compared to All Other Arizona Waters 254 total accidents Number of accidents All other waters 31% Colorado River system 69% Colorado River System Accidents reported in Arizona Colorado River 46% Lake Powell 18% Lake Mohave 9% Lake Mead 5% 4 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report In 2004, 16 different law enforcement agencies, along with boat operators, reported 254 watercraft-related accidents to the department. This number does not include 25 boat accident reports that did not meet minimum state or U.S. Coast Guard reporting guidelines. Information taken from these accident reports assists Arizona law enforcement agencies in identifying safety needs, developing new regulations, designing new enforcement tech-niques, identifying manufacturer problems and directing programs at particular areas of concern. Law enforcement agencies investigating boating accidents and operators involved in accidents are required by law to report such accidents to the Ari-zona Game and Fish Department. If the accident involves an injury or fatality, a written report must be submit-ted within 48 hours. All other accidents must be reported within five days. According to 2004 statistics, a significant num-ber of boating accidents continue to occur along the Colorado River basin, which includes Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Lake Havasu and stretches of the Colorado River. A number of National Park Service officers investigate a boat accident on Lake Powell in July of 2004. The investigation revealed that the operator was impaired. these accidents were related to the use of drugs and alcohol. In 2004, 11 people died on Arizona waterways and four of the deaths (36 percent) were alco-hol- related. In an effort to re-duce those numbers, federal, state, county and local law enforce-ment agencies have teamed up to conduct operating under the influence (oui) patrol efforts. These special projects include on-the-water oui checkpoints and high-density law en-forcement saturation (wolf pack) patrols involving law enforcement agencies from Arizona, Nevada and California. Statewide, watercraft law enforce-ment officers were very successful in detecting and arresting impaired boat operators. In 2004, Arizona watercraft officers arrested 438 individu-als for operating under the influence, 41 of those arrests occurred during multi-agency oui special projects. Last year, 10 multi-agency oui special project patrols were conducted, during which 995 watercraft with 3009 persons onboard were checked and 298 citations were issued. The boating public azgfd.gov 5 2004 Fatalities 4 out of 11 fatalities were alcohol related 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 Alcohol-related fatalities Nonalcohol-related fatalities Lake Mohave Lake Mead Lake Havasu Granite Creek Colorado River Canyon Lake Bartlett Lake Total Number of Alcohol-related Accidents 254 total accidents 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Total number of alcohol-related Injuries Total number of alcohol-related fatalities Total accidents Involving alcohol Total number of alcohol related fatalities Total number of alcohol related Injuries Total accidents involving alcohol The lone operator-occupant of this Lake Havasu boat was thrown over-board during rough conditions in June 2004. This total may not necessarily reflect the true number of alcohol-related accidents due to a variety of factors, including incomplete or delayed accident reporting, along with delayed victim reporting and/or recovery. has continued to support oui patrol efforts. Similar patrol activities are expected during the 2005 watercraft season. Many boat operators appear to be heeding the message of sober boating on the state’s wa-terways. Watercraft law enforcement officers statewide have reported a marked increase in the percentage of designated sober operators encountered during routine contacts. Drinking while boating continues to be a critical problem and high priority target enforcement objective for officers, but the fact that many boat operators have taken the safe and sober boating message to heart is highly encouraging. Property Damage Over $500 Types of watercraft 0 20 40 60 80 100 Number of vessels Pontoon Personal watercraft Other Open motorboat Houseboat Cabin motorboat 0 20 40 60 80 100 Number of accidents Tempe Town Lake Salt River Saguaro Lake Roosevelt Lake Patagonia Lake Lake Powell Lake Pleasant Lake Mohave Lake Mead Lake Havasu Granite Creek Colorado River Canyon Lake Bartlett Lake Apache Lake Alamo Lake Water Bodies 254 total accidents Water Bodies 118 total injuries and 11 fatalities 0 10 20 30 40 50 Number of fatalities Number of injuries Saguaro Lake Roosevelt Lake Lake Powell Lake Pleasant Lake Mohave Lake Mead Lake Havasu Granite Creek Colorado River Canyon Lake Bartlett Lake Apache Lake Houseboats silhouetted at Apache Lake, Ariz. 6 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report *Passenger fatalities not included Causes of Accidents 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Primary, secondary & tertiary causes Weather (heavy) Wake Rules of the road infraction Restricted vision Passenger skier behavior Other Operator inexperience Operator inattention No proper lookout Fault of machinery Improper loading Hull failure Hazardous waters Excessive speed Equipment failure Congested waters Careless/reckless operation Carbon monoxide Alcohol/drug use Age of Watercraft Operators All accident and vessel types 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Accidents Fatal 56 and over 51 to 55 46 to 50 41 to 45 36 to 40 31 to 35 26 to 30 21 to 25 17 to 20 11 to 16 Watercraft Accidents There were 254 watercraft-related accidents re-ported to the Arizona Game and Fish Department in 2004, a decrease of 35 from 2003. The accidents involved 397 boats, which is a decrease of 37 from the prior year. However, officers saw a substantial increase in the number of fatal accidents last year. Eleven people died in 10 separate accidents, as com-pared to seven deaths from six accidents in 2003. A few of these fatal accidents were unusual or uncom-mon in nature. One of the fatalities was attributed The popularity of Blankenship Bend is reflected in this aerial photo taken at midday in May 2004. Boaters continue to flock in large numbers to this unique sandbar located several miles upstream from Lake Havasu along the Colorado River. azgfd.gov 7 Primary Accident Types 254 total accidents 0 30 60 90 120 150 Primary accident type Struck by motor/propeller Struck by boat Skier mishap Sinking Other Hit and run Grounding Flooding/swamping Fire/Explosion (other than fuel) Fire/explosion (fuel) Falls overboard Fall in boat Collision with vessel Collision with floating object Collision with fixed object Capsizing Primary Causes of Fatal Accidents 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 Number of fatalities Rules of the road infraction Passenger skier behavior Other Operator inexperience Operator inattention Hull failure Hazardous waters Carbon monoxide Alcohol/drug use Primary Causes of Injury Accidents 0 5 10 15 20 25 Number of injuries Weather (heavy) Wake Rules of the road infraction Restricted vision Passenger skier behavior Other Operator inexperience Operator inattention Hazardous waters Excessive speed Careless/reckless operation Alcohol/drug use Residence of Operators All accidents 0 50 100 150 200 Number of vessels Other Utah Nevada Colorado California Arizona Types of Watercraft in Accidents 397 total vessels 0 50 100 150 200 Number of vessels Rowboat/utility Pontoon Personal watercraft Other Open motorboat Houseboat Canoe Cabin Motorboat Length of Watercraft All incidents 0 20 40 60 80 100 Number of vessels 24 ‘ + 22’ to 23’ 20’ to 21’ 18’ to 19’ 12’ to 17’ 9’ to 11’ Types of Watercraft in Accidents 118 total injuries and 11 fatalities 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Injury Fatal Pontoon Personal watercraft Other Open motorboat Houseboat Canoe/rowboat Cabin motorboat 8 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report to carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from “teak surfing.” Two fatalities occurred during a canoe acci-dent in a flood-swollen wash. A fourth death resulted from a heart attack triggered by capsizing and subse-quent cold water immersion at Lee’s Ferry. More encouraging was the decline in the total number of injury boating accidents. In 2004, 118 boaters were injured, representing a reduction of 28 from 2003, when 140 were injured while boating Weather Conditions All accidents 0 50 100 150 200 250 Number of accidents Snow Rain Hazy Fog Cloudy Clear Water Conditions All accidents 0 30 60 90 120 150 Number of accidents Very rough (waves > 6’) Strong current Rough (waves 2’ – 6’) Choppy (wave 6” – 2’) Calm (waves less then 6”) Visibility Conditions All accidents 0 50 100 150 200 250 Number of accidents Poor Fair Good Accidents by Month 254 total accidents 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Number of accidents December November October September August July June May April March February January Accidents by Day of Week 254 total accidents 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Number of accidents Sunday Saturday Friday Thursday Wednesday Tuesday Monday Accidents by Day of Week 118 total injuries and 11 fatalities 0 10 20 30 40 50 Injury Fatal Sunday Saturday Friday Thursday Wednesday Tuesday Monday Accidents by Time of Day 254 total accidents 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Number of accidents 8:01 PM to 12:00 AM 4:01 PM to 8:00 PM 12:01 PM to 4:00 PM 8:01 AM to 12:00 PM 4:01 AM to 8:00 AM 12:01 AM to 4:00 AM azgfd.gov 9 on Arizona waterways. However, $954,343 worth of property and vessel damage was re-ported to the department last year: This is one of the highest numbers on record. Boating continues to be an increasingly popular form of recreation in Arizona. The number of registered watercraft in Arizona has grown from 105,000 in 1986 to 147,294 in 2004. According to the 2003 Watercraft Gas Tax Survey, 3,229,153 total boat use days were reported for Arizona. Arizona boaters made up 44 percent of those days, while California boaters made up 49 percent. Nevada boaters made up most of the remaining 7 percent. The main focus of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s watercraft safety program is the safety of all recreational boaters in Arizona. In analyzing watercraft accident informa-tion, there are five main areas of interest: type and cause of the accident, operator in-formation, boats and equipment involved, environmental conditions at the time of the acci-dent, and time and location of the accident. The two leading causes of accidents for the 11th year in a row in Arizona are operator inexperience and operator inattention. Forty percent of operators involved in Arizona boating accidents were residents of the state and 49 percent were from California. The types of watercraft most often involved in accidents were personal watercraft smaller than 12 Age of Personal Watercraft Operators All accidents 0 5 10 15 20 25 Number of operators Age 51 and older Age 46 to 50 Age 41 to 45 Age 36 to 40 Age 31 to 35 Age 26 to 30 Age 21 to 25 Age 17 to 20 Age 11 to 16 Operator’s Boating Education All accidents 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Number of operators Other Informal American Red Cross US Power Squadrons USCG Auxiliary State course None feet in length and open motorboats 24 feet or more in length. Environmental conditions were not a factor in the vast majority of 2004 accidents. The average accident occurred during the day when weather conditions were usually clear, with calm or choppy waters, and good visibility. The most dangerous month for recreational boating in 2004 was July, with August second, and The operator who provided this breath sample was arrested for extreme OUI. In Arizona, boat operators cannot be impaired to the slightest degree, and the legal alcohol concentration limit for persons in con-trol of a motorized watercraft is .08. 10 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report May third. The months of May, July, and Sep-tember traditionally have high numbers of boating accidents because these months reflect peak boater day use along with the summer’s busiest boating holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. In 2004, 43 percent of all accidents oc-curred between noon and 4 p.m. and Saturday was the day of the week that had the most accidents and injuries. Watercraft Regulations The Arizona Legislature has changed state law in regard to the penalties for oui. Boat operators convicted of oui face increased sanctions and fines ranging from $955 for a first time offense to $2155 for second-time extreme oui convictions. Watercraft Education Education is considered one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of boating accidents. According to 2004 statistics, more than half of the operators involved in recreational boating accidents had not received formal education in boating safety. This was a slight decrease from the 2003 data. The Arizona Game and Fish Department provides an eight-hour boating education course developed for recreational boaters. Many insurance companies offer discounts to those who successfully complete the course as a way to encourage boater education. Currently the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Information and Education Division coordinates Tri-state Colorado River Fatalities 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Number of fatalities Nevada California Arizona the courses, and 87 volunteer boating education instructors from across the state provide class-room instruction. In 2004, the department offered 143 boating education classes in Arizona and 1,959 recreational boaters completed them. This was a 288 percent student increase from 2003, which had 680 students attending 57 classes. The Arizona sections of both the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron also conduct boating education training. U.S. Coast Guard boating safety classes vary from an eight-hour basic safety course to 80 hours of instruction. The U.S. Power Squadron offers a six-chapter boating course as well as a shorter, more intense, three-chapter course. The Arizona Game and Fish Department con-tinues to work with judges around the state to include its boating safety education program as part of sentencing for violators of boating rules and regulations. Judges are encouraged to use the program in lieu of, or in addition to, a fine, to help increase the boat operator’s knowledge of boating safety information and regulations. So far, judges and boating violators have indicated the program has been successful in increasing aware-ness of boating safety issues. azgfd.gov 11 The Lost Eden Waterfall dwarfs a 26-foot Na-tional Park Service patrol boat in July 2004. This side channel on Lake Powell only flows after heavy rains. 12 2004 Arizona Boating Safety Report Boating Accident Statistics An area of priority interest to both recreational boaters and law enforcement agencies is the in-creasing number of personal watercraft (pwc) using Arizona waterways. In 1990, there were only 8,168 pwc registered in Arizona, compared to 28,307 in 2004. Currently, pwcs comprise more than 19 per-cent of all Arizona watercraft registrations. However, pwc operators receive a disproportionate amount of injuries compared to other watercraft types. For example, more than 28 percent of all accidents in-volving pwcs result in bodily injuries, and these injuries account for 40 percent of all boating inju-ries. Furthermore, two of the 11 fatalities in 2004 (roughly 18 percent) involved pwcs. These statistics are higher than any other type of watercraft. Many of these accidents can be attributed to the fact that numerous first time operators are renting or have just recently purchased a pwc. A pwc is operated differently than a traditional boat and averages more time on the water than traditional watercraft. The increased use of the Colorado River system from Lake Powell to Yuma is another area of con-cern to the Arizona Game and Fish Department and other law enforcement agencies. Sixty-nine percent of all Arizona watercraft accidents oc-curred along the Colorado River. An increase in law enforcement activity, particularly oui enforce-ment, and a focus on boating education have been shown to help reduce the number of boating acci-dents along the river. This information was compiled from boating accident reports submitted to the Arizona Game and Fish Department by watercraft enforcement agencies and persons involved in watercraft acci-dents throughout Arizona. For more information on boating safety education, call (602) 789-3235. A father and his children take a ride on a personal watercraft at Saguaro Lake in 2003. Arizona Game and Fish Department officers remove an alleged impaired boater from his watercraft and conduct an OUI investigation on Roosevelt Lake in July 2004. National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Arizona’s 2005 Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators devel-oped the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award in 2000 to recognize and honor outstanding service to recreational boating. This award symbolizes the highest level of achievement among boating law enforcement officers in the United States. Each state selects its own officer of the year. The state recipi-ents are eligible for one of three regional awards and the regional recipients compete for the Butch Potts National Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. Officer Tim Baumgarten is a 23-year veteran with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and is currently assigned to the Kingman region as the Law Enforcement Program Manager. Tim is recog-nized throughout Arizona and the western states as one of the top experts and leading authorities in watercraft law enforcement, boat theft investiga-tions, operating under the influence enforcement, and watercraft accident investigations. Tim has personally accounted for more than 100 oui arrests so far in his career, and has assisted fellow officers with hundreds more. Tim was in-volved in the first oui checkpoint in Arizona in 1993, and since then has participated and/or supervised in approximately 70 on-the-water sobriety checkpoints, more than any Arizona watercraft officer. Last year alone, Tim supervised eight Colorado River oui check-points that resulted in 342 citations and 31 oui arrests. Tim is a lead instructor at Ari-zona Game and Fish Department’s annual Watercraft Enforcement Tactics Survival School and has been instructing nationally since 2004 as a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators boating under the influence instructor. He taught oui enforcement at the 2003 International Boating and Water Safety Summit in Las Vegas, Nev. and gave a presenta-tion at the Annual Alcohol Summit put on by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in Arizona. In 1997, Tim received an award of merit from the National Water Safety Congress. Additionally, Ari-zona Game Ranger Fraternal Order of Police recognized him as the 2002 outstanding game and fish officer of the year. azgfd.gov 13 Arizona Game and Fish Department officer Tim Baumgarten Previous Arizona Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year recipients 2004 Jerry Burns, La Paz County Sheriff ’s Office 2003 Deanna Pfleger, Arizona Game and Fish Department 2002 No nominations received 2001 Gerald Duvall, Bullhead City Police Department 2000 Steve Andrews, Arizona Game and Fish Department For information on boating education classes visit azgfd.gov or call the Arizona Game and Fish Department at (602) 789-3235. |