Full Notification

A holiday weekend and soaring temperatures mean it’s boating time.
The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office is advising local folks to never boat under the influence.
Sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement officers will have a higher presence on the lake this holiday weekend.
“We take boating under the influence just as seriously as we do driving under the influence,” said McDowell County Sheriff Dudley Greene. “Our officers will be on high alert on the water this weekend to make sure everyone stays safe and sober and has a great Fourth of July.”
Operating a recreational vessel with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher is against state and federal laws.
If you boat under the influence, you stand a chance of being arrested and the boat being impounded.
Penalties vary by state but can include fines, jail and loss of boating and even driving privileges.
Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor is recreational boating deaths.
In addition to steering clear of BUI, here are other tips to make sure your boating travels are safe:
-- Wear a life jacket while boating. Approximately 85% of people who drowned in a recreational boating accident were not wearing a life jacket.
-- Take a boating safety course. About 73% percent of fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received any boating safety instruction.
-- Get a free vessel safety check each year. These checks have revealed life-threatening problems even on boats owned by safe, responsible boaters.

Source: Operation Dry Water, a nationwide outreach and enforcement campaign. Find more at operationdrywater.com.