The Napa Sheriff’s Office will be participating in “Operation Dry Water”, as part of a nationally coordinated effort to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence (BUI) and increase awareness and education about the dangers of alcohol and drug use on the water.
During the Operation Dry Water, being held the weekend of June 28-30, deputies will be out in force looking for boaters who are operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and those whose blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeds the state limit of .08. This weekend will include increased patrols, as well as boater education. Impaired boaters can expect to be arrested. The consequences for BUI include fines and jail.
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At Lake Berryessa, between April 2011 (date is correct) and June 2013, there were 32 BUI arrests and 50 boating accidents.
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Boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol continues to be a major problem across the nation. U.S. Coast Guard data reveals that alcohol is the primary contributing factor in recreational boating fatalities[i]. Intoxicated boat operators and passengers run a significantly increased risk of being involved in a fatal boating accident.
Operation Dry Water is a nationwide education and enforcement initiative launched by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in 2009, in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.
[i] Source: U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics 2012
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