Operation Dry Water – Nationwide crackdown on boating under the influence

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting heightened enforcement targeting boating under the influence as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign.

Law enforcement will be focused on educating boaters about safe boating practices, which includes boating sober and enforcing the state’s boating under the influence laws.

With the summer boating season underway, and the July 4th holiday approaching, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office reminds boaters that impaired boating is against the law.

Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal on all bodies of water and can lead to serious injuries and consequences.

In Washington, it is illegal to operate a vessel with a BAC level of .08 or higher – the same as it is to operate a vehicle. “The accidents and tragedies that happen because individuals chose to drive drunk or impaired, on land or on the water, are preventable.

The decision lies with the individual on whether they chose to operate a boat or vehicle while under the influence, says Sheriff Bill Benedict. “As law enforcement, it is our job to do all we can to ensure the safety of our recreational boaters and paddlers. That is why the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is joining other states and agencies across the country to do our part in keeping boaters safe and preventing accidents related to boating under the influence.”

Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths and a major contributor to accidents*. The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office encourages boaters to enjoy the boating season to its full extent by boating sober, wearing a life jacket, and taking a boating education course.

The national Operation Dry Water weekend will take place July 5 through July 7. The mission of Operation Dry Water is to reduce the number of alcohol- and drug-related accidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water.

Visit operationdrywater.org for more information about boating under the influence.

*2017 U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics.