The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has announced a crackdown this weekend on drunken boating throughout the state.

Starting Friday and lasting through Sunday, there will be extra patrols on the state’s waterways paid for by the U.S. Coast Guard.  According to statistics, 17 percent of boating fatalities are alcohol-related; a number that we believe to be low and outside.

Keep in mind that that all the laws governing drunk driving also apply to drunk boating.  If you are planning on hitting a lake or reservoir this weekend, the odds are high that you could find yourself under scrutiny of a green-clad Conservation Officer.  You’ve been warned.

Media release from the IDNR:

National/state effort aims to reduce BUI, June 25-27

Indiana will participate in a coordinated national weekend of detection and enforcement of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws, June 25-27, aiming to make recreational boating safer.

The second annual Operation Dry Water is organized by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), and combines the efforts of states, the U.S. Coast Guard and other partner agencies.

Indiana will increase BUI enforcement during the weekend by offering overtime to off- duty officers and increasing patrols in several locations. The overtime would be paid through a grant from the Coast Guard.

During last year’s operation, Indiana conservation officers made 15 Boating While Intoxicated arrests, part of the 101 made during the 2009 boating season.

According to the most recent Coast Guard statistics, BUI remains the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, with 17 percent of boating fatalities a direct result of alcohol or drug use.

For more information and statistics go to www.operationdrywater.org.

Related story from WildIndiana.com

photo: www.operationdrywater.org

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