The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division arrested 13 boaters statewide for alleged driving or operating a vessel while impaired (DWI) from May 24 to May 26, including a Jackson Parish man.

Joseph Howard of Quitman was one of two people arrested over the Memorial Day Holiday weekend on Caney Creek Reservoir in Jackson Parish, being cited on May 25th. Ryan Feirn of Goldonna was also arrested for DWI on May 24th.  

Ensuring boating safety laws to help protect those enjoying time on the water is a top priority for the LDWF Enforcement Division. Anyone cited for a DWI on the water or on the road 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.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.