MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - Drunken, naked boaters would be more difficult to find on Missouri's lakes if some Missouri lawmakers have their way.
Their goal is to shut down, or at least tone down, the infamous "Party Cove" at Lake of the Ozarks where dozens of boaters tie up together for a floating party.
Lake residents complain the "Party Cove" boaters often are drunk and, sometimes, moon passing boaters.
Two representatives are working to impose stricter regulations on boaters on Missouri lakes, such as limiting how many boats may form a flotilla and restricting where boats may anchor.
Rep. Phil Tate's bill would prohibit more than seven boats from rafting together, while the other House bill, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Pryor, R-Versailles, allows rafting of up to 24 vessels.
The bill Tate, D-Gallatin, is sponsoring also would give Water Patrol officers more enforcement power on lakes. This includes applying misdemeanor penalties to people found guilty of public nudity or sexual contact in the presence of a third person. Water Patrol personnel also would have more authority to establish zones where anchoring or mooring is banned.
Pryor's bill does not address nudity or anchoring.
"We are approaching it from a safety issue," said Water Patrol Commissioner Larry Whitten.
Whitten said he has seen times when there are more boats in a cove than can safely enter and exit the area. He cited a situation when a man in an overcrowded cove who went into respiratory failure and emergency workers were unable to reach him because of all the boats.
"If it had not been for a nurse at the scene, he would have died," Whitten said.
Bill supporters also described the potential danger if a boat in such an area caught fire.
However, Bill Bellmer, president of Bridgeport Boat Rentals, said he doesn't see this as a legitimate argument.
"What happens when there's a concert in St. Louis and there's 2,000 cars?" he asked. "I've never seen it happen in Party Cove. Party Cove's been here for 14, 15 years."
At present, what boaters call Party Cove is located in Anderson Cove, inside Lake of the Ozarks State Park. It was moved there last summer after its previous location in Regal Cove came under restrictions.
Bellmer said he doesn't frequent Party Cove and wishes it wasn't in the state park, but he thinks the proposed regulations are unnecessary and would likely not be effective.
"Party Cove has a reputation of being nothing but a bunch of drunk nude people," Bellmer said. "It's mainly people with $100,000 boats or more."
Tate said the law would apply to all lakes in Missouri.
"This is not specific to a geographic location. It is not specific to Lake of the Ozarks," Tate said.
But Tate acknowledged that Lake of the Ozarks is the only place that would be immediately affected by the proposed regulations.
Tate hails from northwestern Missouri, an area that is virtually free of lakes. He said his interest in this issue stems from his growing up on lake property and formerly being in the marina business.