Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division is taking part in Operation Dry Water — a nationally coordinated effort over the weekend of June 28-30, 2013 — to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence (BUI).
The DNR’s Lake Lanier Supervisor Sgt. Mike Burgamy told lakelanier.com that the DNR and the Corps of Engineers will jointly “supply local parks and boat ramps with boating safety handbooks and Georgia Boating Laws & Information Sheets to every boater, while supplies last. DNR rangers will also set up a mobile Intoxilyzer at Gwinnett County Park to be used when suspected drunk boaters are arrested.”
The mission of Operation Dry Water is also to bring awareness and education to recreational boaters about the dangers of alcohol and drug use on the water.
“We are dedicated to keeping boaters safe on our waters. Boating is a safe and enjoyable pastime when people stay alert and follow the rules,” says Lt. Col. Jeff Weaver. “You will see our officers out on the water looking for boaters who are operating a vessel under the influence.”
Despite the fact that it is against the law nationwide for a person to operate a recreational vessel with an unlawful blood alcohol concentration (.08 or higher in Georgia), BUI continues to be a problem across the U.S.
Conservation rangers have made 71 arrests so far this year on state lakes and waterways in Georgia, and a total of 180 in 2012.
Operation Dry Water, a multi-agency, education and enforcement initiative launched by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in 2009 in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, puts thousands of local, state and federal marine law enforcement officers on the water just before the Fourth of July to give BUI enforcement high visibility before a holiday known for drinking and boating.
