Sergeant Jerry Callahan says that the Fourth of July is one of the busiest weekends on Missouri water ways.

People come from all around Missouri to cool down on the smooth lake waters.  This means water patrol is working longer hours to keep boaters safe.

"On holiday weekends we'll send extra administrative personnel out to bolster the numbers and all the officers will generally work an extended shift," Callahan said.

At the lake, Captain Matt Walz said they even called for reinforcements.  "There's also a United States Coast Guard crew that's here for the weekend as well so that adds some additional visibility," he said.

Many boaters noticed the drastic increase of patrol boats out on the water.  They thought it was necessary to have them out there in order to crack down on drunk boaters.

J.R. Jones used to live in the Lake of the Ozarks area and he is back for the weekend to go boating.  He said, "I really think that they should crack down on drunk driving. People get killed down here."

Walz said, "It seems like a lot of the fatalities that we've had in recent years have been due two intoxicated passengers either falling off of boats or getting into the water and swimming and then drowning."

Last Forth of July water patrol reported 54 boating while intoxicated arrests along with 14 accidents, four injuries, and two deaths. 

This year, they are making sure children under the age of seven wear a life jacket.  Walz said it takes a split second for a child to fall off a boat and drown.

They are also worried about boating at night.  The lack of visibility makes waters more dangerous.  "We'll have our officers working later shifts after dark in order to ensure safe waters that way," said Callahan.

There is a 30 miles per hour speed limit on the water at night.  Jones says he doesn't think the speed limit is as important as other violations.

"As far as speed limits go, I don't think they should enforce that as much. If you got a fast boat, it's a big lake, have fun.  But if you're drinking and driving I think it's unacceptable," he said.

Walz says so far it's been a safe weekend at the lake and he hopes to keep it that way.