Thousands of law enforcement officers across the United States will be on heightened alert for those violating boating under the influence laws during the annual Operation Dry Water weekend, which this year is July 3 – 5.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Boating Enforcement Unit will join the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and others in the annual campaign designed to educate boaters about the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Our Boating Unit’s specific duties will be patrolling the waters of Shaver Lake, Pine Flat Lake and the Kings River this Friday – Sunday.
Alcohol use continues to be the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths and a leading contributor in boating accidents. The mission of Operation Dry Water is to reduce the number of alcohol and drug-related incidents and fatalities on the water.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office will be out educating boaters on ways to stay safe while on the water, which includes always boating sober and avoiding any alcohol or drug-use prior to and while boating. Deputies will also be detecting and arresting impaired operators from the water. No matter where you are boating, it is illegal to operate a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In 2019, law enforcement officers across the nation issued a total of 9,524 citations and removed 563 impaired operators from our nation’s waterways. The Fresno Sheriff’s Office is urging boaters to enjoy this boating season and help keep everyone safe by not drinking alcohol while on the water or operating a boat after you have consumed alcohol. Use of both legal and illegal drugs impairs judgment, reaction time and makes it dangerous to operate any vessel.
Boaters can learn more about boating under the influence by visiting http://www.fresnosheriff.org or http://www.operationdrywater.org Operation Dry Water is coordinated nationally by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.
