Boating under the influence focus of Lake Tahoe campaign this weekend

As the summer recreational boating season gets into full swing, several law enforcement agencies are ramping up enforcement of boating under the influence laws on Lake Tahoe and other bodies of water. This is all part of a national safety campaign that begins this weekend, June 25 and 26 to heighten awareness and enforcement. Operation Dry Water focuses on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Law enforcement agencies will be out in force, looking for boaters who choose to boat under the influence and removing them from the water. Officers hope to increase awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence and to drastically reduce the e accidents and deaths due to impaired boating.

"It's our job to make sure boaters stay safe, and in Nevada we've seen too many serious and even fatal accidents caused by drunken boating," said David Pfiffner, Nevada's boating law administrator. "We think the Operation Dry Water program is a great way to target this serious issue. We also need to remind boaters that boating under the influence is not only dangerous, but it's also a serious crime that results in heavy fines and even jail time."

In Nevada and California it is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher—the same as it is to operate a vehicle. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths.

During the national weekend of heightened awareness and high-visibility enforcement, boaters can expect to see more law enforcement presence and increased messaging about this dangerous and preventable crime.

For more info: http://www.operationdrywater.org