NC Wildlife Commission urges sober boating ahead of Fourth of July weekend

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — As many people head to the water for the Fourth of July holiday, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding boaters to stay sober and follow safety laws during one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Wildlife officers will be taking part in the annual “Operation Dry Water” campaign, a nationwide effort focused on preventing impaired boating and reducing alcohol-related crashes on the water.

During a patrol in Wrightsville Beach, Officer Jacob Stewart stopped two people on jet skis for speeding through a no-wake zone.

Stewart said officers will be closely watching for speeding and other unsafe behavior throughout the holiday weekend.

Commission Sgt. Clayton Ludwick said officers will have zero tolerance for boating under the influence and will remove impaired operators from the water.

“As hot as it’s going to be this weekend, people are going to be drinking,” Ludwick said.

He also encouraged people to stay hydrated as dangerous heat is expected across the region.

“So I encourage you to drink something other than alcohol, make sure they are drinking water at the same time. Heat indexes are supposed to be from 105 to 110. It’s gonna be extremely hot this weekend,” Ludwick said.

According to the Wildlife Commission, officers have investigated 62 boating incidents in North Carolina so far in 2026, resulting in nine fatalities and 27 injuries. Alcohol was considered a likely contributing factor in seven of those incidents.

Officials said common boating conditions, including vibration, sun exposure, heat and noise, can intensify the effects of alcohol, causing impairment more quickly than many people realize.

Stewart said inexperience is another common factor in boating accidents and urged new boaters to gain experience before heading out during the busy holiday.

“July Fourth weekend is not a good time to learn, so we encourage people to go practice and find a place where it’s not busy,” Stewart said.

Wildlife officers also remind boaters to carry required safety equipment, including life jackets, a throwable flotation device and a fire extinguisher. They also encourage operators to slow down, maintain safe following distances and stay aware of increased traffic on the water.

Operating a boat while impaired is illegal in North Carolina and can result in criminal charges, including fines, jail time and the loss of boating privileges.