Township part of the nationwide crackdown on boating under the influence
The Town of East Troy Police Department Water Patrol will be conducting heightened enforcement targeting boating under the influence as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign.
Law enforcement will be focused on educating boaters about safe boating practices, which includes boating sober, and enforcing the state’s boating under the influence laws.
With the summer boating season underway, and the Fourth of July holiday approaching, the township police department reminds boaters that impaired boating is against the law. Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal on all bodies of water and can lead to serious injuries and consequences. In Wisconsin it is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher – the same as it is to operate a vehicle.
“The accidents and tragedies that happen because individuals chose to drive drunk or impaired, on land or on the water, are preventable. The decision lies with the individual on whether they chose to operate a boat or vehicle while under the influence,” Police Chief Don Jensen stated in a press release. “As law enforcement, it is our job to do all we can to ensure the safety of our recreational boaters and paddlers.
“That is why the Town of East Troy Police Department Water Patrol is joining other states and agencies across the country to do our part in keeping boaters safe and preventing accidents related to boating under the influence.”
According to the 2016 U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics, alcohol is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths, and a major contributor to accidents.
The Town of East Troy Police Department encourages boaters to enjoy the boating season to its full extent by boating sober, wearing a life jacket and taking a boating education course.
Operation Dry Water weekend
National Operation Dry Water weekend is June 29 to July 1. The mission of Operation Dry Water is to reduce the number of alcohol- and drug-related accidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water.
Visit operationdrywater.org for more information about boating under the influence.
