Some boaters don’t care about safety — yours or theirs. “Getting buzzed” is a big part of what they enjoy about being on the water and are sure they may do whatever they want on their own vessel. This mistaken idea may land them in a courtroom, jail, a hospital, or even the morgue, as operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs is against the law and dangerous to themselves and everyone in the vicinity.
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. According to U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Recreational Boating Statistics, alcohol use was the leading factor in 16 percent of deaths in 2022.
Strong sun and winds, combined with the vibrations and rolling of a vessel, create “boater’s fatigue,” a condition that mimics the effects of being under the influence in persons who are sober. That’s before alcohol and/or certain legal and illegal drugs blur vision and reduce balance, judgment, and reaction time. A boat pilot under the influence is incapable of making proper decisions and assessing risks, putting everyone in the area in peril.
Alcohol use also poses a danger to passengers, as boater’s fatigue affects all aboard. If you’re also under the influence, it’s hard to comply with a skipper’s commands and avoid slips and falls.
It is illegal in every state and territory to operate vessels, from kayaks to the largest yachts, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. As boating while impaired is a choice, not an accident, law enforcement authorities take ridding the waters of risky skippers seriously. Consequences include ending the outing, impounding the vessel, and arrest of the boat operator.
During Operation Dry Water, a campaign coordinated with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the USCG, enforcers will heighten public awareness of the perils of boating while impaired. The campaign takes place Saturday, July 1 through Monday, July 3. Don’t be misled by the word “awareness.” It’s not a euphemism for giving lectures or getting warnings — all participating law enforcement agencies will stop and arrest boaters suspected of boating under the influence (BUI).
*Once the July 1-3 period passes, law enforcement continues to be on the outlook for impaired boaters.
Police and USCG (as well as local harbor patrols) are on the lookout for signs of intoxication day and night. Checkpoints will be set up without warning and vessels stopped if law enforcement observes possible violations or unsafe piloting. Sobriety tests will be administered as warranted, so a boat going too fast through a no-wake zone might end up with its operator arrested for alleged BUI.
Operators arrested and convicted of BUI face the same or similar consequences as driving while intoxicated on land — jail time, loss of operating privileges, and seizure of the vessel. Every arrest triggers the expense of legal defense and potential loss of wages. In addition, if harm comes to passengers or people on other vessels, lawsuit expenses and damage awards are incalculable.
https://community.nasbla.org/operationdrywater/home
