GRANT COUNTY, Wash. (24JUN2014) - The Grant County Sheriff’s Marine Unit will be joining other Washington marine patrol officers statewide in targeting boaters who are operating boats while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
The Operation Dry Water campaign and emphasis patrols take place the weekend of June 27-29 throughout Washington and will focus on preventing injury and death in accidents resulting from boating under the influence (BUI). The planned weekend focus is aimed at raising awareness of the problem and getting impaired boat operators off the water by actively enforcing the law that prohibits using alcohol and drugs while operating a boat.
According to the Washington State Parks Boating Program, between 2004 and 2013, at least 64 people died in Washington state boating accidents where alcohol use was a contributing factor. Recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics report that boating under the influence is still the leading factor in fatal boating accidents, with 17 percent of boating fatalities a direct result of alcohol use by the operator.
During the June 2013 campaign, 169 Washington marine law enforcement officers made contact with 3,908 recreational boaters and issued 1,364 boating safety warnings, 6 BUI citations and 219 citations for other violations.
Authorities say that enforcing laws for operating a boat while under the influence is just as important to public safety as the enforcement of drunk driving laws.
Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones says marine unit deputies will be patrolling the county’s larger water recreation areas, including Banks Lake, Sun Lake, Blue Lake, Billy Clapp Lake, Moses Lake and the Potholes Reservoir.
“Grant County’s water recreation areas are some of the most beautiful in the state and attract a lot of visitors,” said Jones. “We want to make sure everyone goes home happy and safe from a trip to any waterway in Grant County.”
For more information on the national Operation Dry Water campaign, visit www.operationdrywater.org
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