Indianapolis, Indiana – The Fourth of July weekend is coming, and the State Department of Natural Resources wants you to be careful if you plan on taking your boat out on the water.
“Operation Dry Water” kicks off this weekend. It’s part of a nationally coordinated effort to increase knowledge about the dangers of boating under the influence.
The objective is to lower the number of accidents and fatalities linked to drug and alcohol usage on public waterways.
There will be someone monitoring if you drive a boat after drinking.
Over the holiday weekend, a large number of Indiana Conservation Officers will be policing the waters, including David Moss.
“Just like driving a car, it is illegal to drive a boat. Your blood alcohol level can’t be over 0.8 or higher, “said Moss.
A boat operator who is intoxicated may be punished with a misdemeanor and subject to hefty fines.
The state, according to Officer Moss, averages 78 BWIs annually.
This indicates that safety is still a major worry when drinking and operating a boat.
“On average, we have about 50 drownings a year and a lot of them probably have something to do with drinking,” said Moss.
A functioning fire extinguisher and a life vest for each person on the boat, according to officials, are essential.
“In a personal watercraft, you’re supposed to have a wearable life jacket the whole time you’re on board,” said Moss.
And while on the water, you need to be cautious about more than simply drinking.
“Any drug impairment is going to fall under boating under the influence,” said Moss.
Additionally, Moss advises against using pyrotechnics while on a boat because doing so increases the likelihood of setting the water on fire.
