Nationwide sweep to target impaired boaters
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft is among a growing number of state and local marine patrol agencies participating June 24-26 in a special nationwide crackdown on alcohol-impaired boating known as Operation Dry Water. This will be the third year of the special nationwide marine enforcement effort initiated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.
In 2010, Ohio Division of Watercraft officers contacted 3,810 boaters and made 11 arrests for boating while intoxicated during the Operation Dry Water enforcement weekend, according to the group. A total of 198 other alcohol and boating-related violations were issued in addition to 754 warnings.
No boating-related fatalities were recorded during last year’s Operation Dry Water weekend in Ohio.
The ODNR says alcohol is involved in about one of every three boating-related accidents on Ohio waterways. While state watercraft officers and local marine patrols are always on the lookout for impaired boat operators, Operation Dry Water is an organized national effort that focuses greater awareness on impaired boating.
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