Nevada Law Enforcement Agencies Participate in Operation Dry Water, Nationwide Crack down on Drunken Boating
Law enforcement officers across Nevada will be on heightened alert for those violating boating under the influence laws during the annual Operation Dry Water weekend, June 25- 26. Operation Dry Water is a nationally coordinated heightened awareness and enforcement campaign, focused on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
"Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths, and a leading factor in recreational boating accidents overall," said Game Warden Captain David Pfiffner, Nevada's Boating Law Administrator.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) will have officers on every major and most minor bodies of water across the state, and other law enforcement agencies are adding extra officers to many waterways in other parts of the state. In Southern Nevada, the National Park Service will be working with NDOW at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
At Lake Tahoe, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and Douglas County Sheriff's Office will both have patrol boats looking for drunken boaters throughout the weekend. "Too many people are getting hurt in boating accidents at Lake Tahoe because of impaired operation," said Washoe County Sheriff Chuck Allen.
Agencies are focusing their efforts on detecting impaired boaters and educating the public about the dangers of boating under the influence. In 2014, alcohol use was the primary factor in nearly one-fourth (21%) of boater deaths.
"The decision about whether to drink and boat under the influence is a choice every boater makes," says John Fetterman, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Deputy Executive Director. "Boating under the influence is a 100% preventable crime. Operation Dry Water, participating law enforcement agencies and our boating safety partners encourage boaters to stay safe by staying sober while boating."
Since the inception of the Operation Dry Water Campaign in 2009, law enforcement officers have removed 1,875 BUI operators from the nation's waterways and made contact with over 604,250 boaters during the annual weekend. In 2014, 585 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and USCG units from 56 state and territories participated in Operation Dry Water.
For more information on Operation Dry Water, please visit operationdrywater.org. See a list of participating of agencies by state at http://www.operationdrywater.org/agencies.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW's wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen's license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. Find us on Facebook, Twitter or visit us at www.ndow.org.