SACRAMENTO >> More than 30 marine law enforcement entities across California, including in Lake County, will be out in force beginning today and running through Sunday looking for drunken/impaired recreational boaters.
This three-day increased enforcement, known as Operation Dry Water (ODW), is a boating-under-the influence awareness and enforcement campaign carried out throughout the United States around Fourth of July, a holiday unfortunately known for drinking and boating, and deadly accidents.
According to the Division of Boating and Waterway’s 2016 California Recreational Boating Accident Statistics Report, 588 recreational boating accidents, 266 injuries and 50 fatalities were reported last year. Alcohol was a contributing factor in 40 percent of the boating fatalities where testing was conducted. Nationally, alcohol is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents.
Operating a recreational vessel under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is dangerous. Alcohol and/or drugs can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision and reaction time. It may also increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effect of cold-water immersion. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion – “stressors” common to the boating environment – intensify the side effects of alcohol, drugs, and some prescription medications. Alcohol is also dangerous for passengers. Intoxication can lead to slips, falls overboard and other dangerous accidents.
In California, it is against the law to operate a boat or water ski with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more. A person with a BAC less than 0.08 percent may be arrested if conditions are deemed unsafe.
