Operation Dry Water Set for Early July

During the annual Operation Dry Water, July 1 to 3, state, local, and federal agencies will step up boating safety enforcement for one weekend, with the goal of decreasing alcohol and drug-related accidents through public awareness.  

“The data shows alcohol-related accidents after Operation Dry Water weekend are drastically reduced compared to those weeks before,” said Brian Moore, a recreational boating safety specialist in the Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division (CG-BSX-2). “Our hope is Coast Guard units will see the long-term benefit of accident and fatality reduction and conduct their own boating under the influence campaigns.”  

Alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2022, accounting for over 100 deaths, or 16 percent of total fatalities. The Boating Safety Division coordinates ODW in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and other members of the boating safety community. Coast Guard units are encouraged to participate by partnering with state boating law administrators and local law enforcement agencies.  

During the 2022 Operation Dry Water, over 7,800 maritime law enforcement officers contacted 350,472 boaters on 126,832 recreational vessels. Federal, state, and local maritime law enforcement officers made 794 BUI arrests, along with 11,869 citations and 33,198 warnings for other boating-related safety violations.  

Resources for Operation Dry Water can be found here: https://www.nasbla.org/operationdrywater