'Operation Dry Water' a Go for This Weekend
By: Kristin Mazur
Updated: June 29, 2009
“One fatality is too many” says Conservation Officer Rodney Clear.
Before you head behind the wheel of a boat there are a few things you need to know.
“Twenty-one-percent of the accidents reported to The Coast Guard involved alcohol” says Clear.
This is a percentage over 200 Conservation Officers here in Indiana will be trying to reduce starting today.
“This weekend, between June 26 and the 28, we will be on ‘Operation Dry Water.’”
Officers will be patrolling the waters, working overtime, and looking for drivers boating under the influence.
“Last year officers recorded over 8000 extra hours patrolling” notes Clear.
If youre behind the wheel of the boat and youve consumed alcohol, youre ten times more likely to get into a boating accident.
“If youre the operator of the boat, you cant test over .08” says Clear.
So if you get to that point, Clear advises that you designate a sober driver “just as you would on the road.”
“It does affect your drivers license just as if you would be on the road” Clear adds.
Summer has just begun, but officers have already seen their share of accidents.
“Unfortunately alcohols been involved with some of the drownings already in the State of Indiana” says Clear.
According to Officer Clear, anytime youre on the water and drinking youre putting yourself at risk, regardless of the type of boat.
When youre on a boat, your balance is off, your coordination is off, and your vision is off.
“Add all that together and then combine that on a boat and it makes it alot more severe” says Clear.
