News Release

FWC officer receives MADD award for impaired boater arrests

April 1, 2009
Contact:  Lt. Drew Nelson, 850-265-3676

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) law enforcement officer David Erdman of Panama City is the 2008 recipient of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) award for recording the most boating-under-the-influence arrests.

Erdman, who began work with the Florida Marine Patrol in 1997, made 29 impaired boater arrests last year. It is the seventh straight year Erdman has received the MADD award, chalking up a total of 355 impaired-boat-operator arrests.

The MADD life-saving award is open to any FWC law enforcement officer or federal, state or county law enforcement officer who is involved in patrolling Florida's waterways.

Erdman received the award March 16 at the annual MADD banquet in Tallahassee.  Don Murray, MADD Florida state executive director, and Lt. Governor Jeffrey Kottkamp presented the award.
Under Florida law, any boater operating a vessel while impaired because of the use of alcohol or drugs is subject to arrest. Adult vessel operators are considered impaired if their blood alcohol content is .08 or higher; for people under the age of 21 the threshold is .02.

Florida law requires that impaired boat operators be arrested and taken to jail where they must remain at least eight hours.

"This is all about safety. The way I look at it, I, and all the officers are there to make sure people can go out on the water and not have to worry about someone who is impaired or drunk running into them or causing an accident," Erdman said. "Not only that, people who are intoxicated on the water will be intoxicated on the highway when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle and drive home."

Erdman said part of his motivation for watching out for impaired boaters is the human toll on those involved in accidents.

"These are not victimless crimes.  Impaired boaters who injure or kill themselves or others affect other families - children, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, grandparents and on and on," he said.

Erdman said in 88 of the arrest incidents children were on board vessels.

Despite the arrest numbers, Erdman wishes he never had to write another boating-under-the-influence ticket.

"I'd be happier if everyone left alcohol or drugs behind, but unfortunately that's not reality," he said.