Marine Board, OSP and Sheriff's Deputies Join Operation Dry Water on the 4th to Curb Boating Under the Influence

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon State Marine Board, sheriff's offices across the state and the Oregon State Police will participate in Operation Dry Water from April 4 to July 6 as part of a nationally coordinated effort to reduce the number of accidents and deaths. related to boating under the influence of intoxicants.

Boating under the influence of intoxicants means prescription drugs, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana, or any other substance that impairs a person's ability to make sound judgment and operate a boat safely .

The effects of drugs and alcohol are amplified on the water, due to the combined impacts of environmental stressors like sun glare, wind, wave movement and other factors. Alcohol also dehydrates the body, causing sudden immersion in cold water with an even greater risk of drowning.

Intoxicated boaters face severe penalties. The consequences of a drunk driving conviction include jail time, a $6,250 fine, and loss of boating privileges. Naval officers can legally collect blood, breath or urine if a boater fails field sobriety tests.

U.S. Coast Guard national statistics for 2023 indicated that alcohol consumption was the leading known contributing factor in boating accidents with a known primary cause and was listed as the primary factor in 17% of deaths.

“Boating is a relatively safe activity when boating soberly, wearing a life jacket and remaining aware of the surroundings,” says Brian Paulsen, Marine Board boating safety program manager. So far this year, the common denominators in boating fatalities are operator inattention, failure to wear a life jacket and operator inexperience.

If you see an impaired driver or someone operating in a way that threatens the safety of others, call 911 to report it.

For more information about Operation Dry Water, visit www.operationdrywater.org.