Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents arrested six boaters for operating a vessel while intoxicated (DWI) on the water in Livingston Parish from May 6 to 8.
The arrests took place on the Maurepas Basin waterway system which consists mainly of the Blind, Amite and Tickfaw rivers.
Agents arrested David Melendez, 48, of Gonzales; Glynn Painter, 63, from French Settlement; Jamie Fuentes, 43, from Denham Springs; Logan Collins, 25, from Winnfield; Justin Pfister, 20, from Destrehan; and Gary Mooney, 33, from Baton Rouge.
A DWI on the water carries the same penalites as a DWI on the road and brings a $300 to $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail for the first offense. A DWI on the water also includes loss of driving and boating privileges.
The LDWF Enforcement Division is charged with the public's safety of the states waterways and has a zero tolerance for vessel operators operating their vessel while impaired. As always agents will be out in force on the various waterways throughout the state enforcing boating safety regulations this spring and summer.
LDWF highly recommends a designated operator of a vessel if alcohol will be consumed while boating.
Agents participating in these DWI arrests are Sgt. Randy Lanoux, Sgt. Terry Hicks, Lt. Louis Burnett, Sgt. Todd Lavliolette, Sgt. Carl Armstrong, Senior Agent Dale Wheat, Agent Hunter Pearson, Agent Josh Cooper and Agent Trey Coats.