WARNING

Increased BUI Enforcement
June 24-26, 2016

Stay Safe, Stay Sober While Boating—Operation Dry Water to Begin June 24, 2016

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RICHMOND, VA – This weekend Virginia Conservation Police Officers will be out on the water in force, looking out for boaters who are under the influence.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) will be joining boating agencies across the United States who are teaming up to promote safe and responsible boating.

Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths in the United States.  In response, Operation Dry Water, June 24-26, is the weekend of heightened enforcement of boating under the influence laws.  This is a part of a national coordinated effort to raise awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence (BUI), and to reduce the number of accidents and deaths related to alcohol use on our waterways.

“This year has been an especially tough year as we’ve already had 12 boating fatalities in Virginia,” said Acting Chief of Law Enforcement, Clark Greene. “We want people to stay safe and have fun on the water, but drinking alcohol greatly increases the chance for accidents to occur.  Officers will be out in force this weekend helping to keep people safe.”

Environmental “stressors” associated with boating, such as the rocking of the boat, sun, wind and noise, all intensify the effect of alcohol on a person while boating. Because of this, a boater is likely to become impaired more quickly on a boat than on land. Both operators and passengers increase their chances of slips, falls overboard or becoming involved in a serious boating accident by consuming alcohol while boating.

In Virginia, boaters whose blood alcohol content (BAC) level exceeds the state limit of [.08] can be arrested for BUI and face serious penalties upon conviction including a fine of up to $2,500 and incarceration for a period up to 12 months. Additionally, the operator may lose his privilege to operate a boat for one year on a first offense and up to three years for any subsequent offense. DGIF supports the Operation Dry Water message which encourages boaters to never boat under the influence and enjoy their time on the water responsibly.

Operation Dry Water is a joint program of DGIF, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other state agencies. For more information on Operation Dry Water, please visit: http://www.operationdrywater.org/.

Motorboat Operators Required to Have Boating Education Course Completed by July 1st