Operation Dry Water begins to increase boating safety

Boaters are advised that they will see more DNR conservation wardens and area law enforcement on the water, July 1-3, as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign. Wardens and other participating law enforcement agencies, will educate boaters about safe boating practices across the country, which includes sober boating.

Alcohol use is a leading factor in recreational boating fatalities and nearly 80 percent of fatal boating incidents, involve drowning. Since Operation Dry Water started in 2009, law enforcement officers across the nation, have taken law enforcement action against 4,700 impaired operators, preventing dangerous and potentially devastating consequences.

If alcohol is involved in a day of boating, have a designated operator. Operating a boat is no different than driving a car.

“Boating while impaired continues to be a problem on our waterways,” said Lt. Darren Kuhn, DNR boating law administrator. “As law enforcement, it is our duty to ensure that recreational boaters, paddlers and anyone enjoying our waterways, have a safe place to spend their time. The tragedies that result from these boating under the influence incidents, are 100 percent preventable.”

Operating a vessel while impaired, is illegal on all bodies of water and can lead to serious injuries, death and legal consequences. In Wisconsin, it is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher.

Operation Dry Water is a year-round boating-under-theinfluence- awareness-and-enforcement campaign, with the purpose of reducing the number of alcohol and drug related incidents, and fatalities, through increased recreational boater awareness, and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent, to alcohol and drug use on the water.

Boaters can learn more about boating under the influence, by visiting operationdrywater.org.