COLUMBUS, Ohio – It wouldn’t be Jimmy Buffett’s most popular song, but alcohol and water don’t mix: That’s the message the state will be bringing to boaters this weekend.
As part of Operation Dry Water, a nationally coordinated effort to reduce boating accidents and deaths, Ohio Division of Watercraft officers will be operating checkpoints, stopping boaters, conducting breathalyzer tests and otherwise cracking down on “boating under the influence” this weekend.
“Consuming alcohol on a boat can have serious, and even deadly, consequences. It is critical for drivers and passengers to stay sober and stay safe at all times while boating,” says division chief Gary Obermiller.
Not unlike driving on dry land, Obermiller says alcohol use contributes to accidents on Ohio’s waterways, many of them fatal. The leading cause of fatal boating incidents nationwide is alcohol use, he said.
Friday through Sunday, Operation Dry Water will focus on increased patrols, tests and boater education about the dangers of BUI, Obermiller said.
Boaters whose blood alcohol content level exceeds the state limit of .08 can be arrested for BUI and face serious penalties, including fines, jail and loss of privileges to register and to operate boats in the state, Obermiller said.
During last year’s Operation Dry Water, officers contacted boaters on 456 vessels and made 10 arrests for boating under the influence, Obermiller said.