Drunk Boating Crackdown Set for This Weekend

Coast Guard members and New Jersey State Troopers will participate in a nationwide crackdown on drunk boating this weekend and step up their efforts to detect boaters operating vessels under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

The two agencies will participate in Operation Dry Water, a national effort which runs June 24-26 this year.

Authorities will be searching for boat operators whose blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeds the national limit of .08 percent, the same level of intoxication that can earn drivers a drunk driving charge on the road.

According to the most recent statistics compiled by the Coast Guard, boating under the influence is still the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, with 17 percent of boating fatalities a direct result of alcohol or drug use. During last year’s Operation Dry Water effort, 40,127 vessels and 66,472 boaters were contacted by law enforcement, 322 BUI arrests were made, 4,171 citations were issued and 7,522 warnings were issued for safety violations, according to the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.

In New Jersey, being convicted of boating under the influence carries the same penalties as any other DWI charge, including the suspension of one’s driver’s license. A conviction on drunk boating charges in New Jersey where one’s BAC is between .08 and .10 can result in a fine of between $240 and $400, the loss of boating privileges for one year and the loss of a driver’s license for three months. Those convicted of boating with BACs higher than .10 face higher fines and a seven month license revocation, plus potential jail time. Unlike roadside traffic stops, authorities may stop boaters for a safety check at any time.

"Boating under the influence is not just illegal, it's deadly," said Coast Guard Rear Adm. William "Dean" Lee, the commander of the Coast Guard’s Fifth District, which covers the area south of Shark River Inlet southward toward Virginia. "Nearly a fifth of all recreational boating accidents involve alcohol, and the Coast Guard and our partner agencies will be working throughout the weekend to ensure people are boating safely and responsibly."