‘Operation Dry Water’ aims to keep waterways safe during the holiday weekend

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — With the anticipated nice weather forecast for the 4th of July holiday weekend, many people will likely be heading to waterways to cool down and relax.

Members of the law enforcement division of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will be looking for people operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

‘Operation Dry Water,’ which starts Friday and continues throughout the weekend, is a national maritime campaign promoting sobriety on the water.

“Being sober on the water means having a designated driver that can get you to your favorite sunny spot and back to the dock safely,” said Murphy Hall, an officer with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

During last year’s campaign, law enforcement officers issued 572 warnings, 280 citations and removed 29 people who were boating under the influence while on the state’s waterways.

“In North Carolina, you are an impaired operator if your blood alcohol concentration meets or exceeds .08 or is substantially impaired by alcohol or drugs,” said Hall.

Drinking affects the skills necessary to operate a boat including peripheral vision and ability to focus, judgement and rational decision making, balance and equilibrium, coordination and reaction time.

“It affects you three times as fast on the water given the environmental conditions like the sun and the heat,” Hall said.

In addition to the ‘Operation Dry Water’ safety campaign, the commission’s ‘Preserve your Life’ campaign deals with wearing an approved flotation device anytime you are on the water.

“In North Carolina, children under 13 must wear an approved flotation device anytime the vessel is underway,” Hall said.

For more information about safe boating and North Carolina boating activities, visit ncwildlife.org/boating.