boating Law enforcement officer Operation Dry Water is a national weekend of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) detection and enforcement aimed at reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities and fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water. Held during the summer boating season and coordinated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators—with the states, the U.S. Coast Guard and other partner agencies—Operation Dry Water directly addresses the National Recreational Boating Safety Strategic Plan Strategy 6.2 to “increase the number of BUI checkpoints to collect and report BUI and safety compliance data in the Arizona Game & Fish Performance Report Part II,” as well as Strategy 6.6 to “challenge law enforcement officials to test more operators for alcohol/drug use in accident investigations.”

Curbing the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities is key to achieving a safer and more enjoyable environment for recreational boating. According to the most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics, 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.


States	50	46
Territories	6	5
Agencies/Organizations	175	N/A
Law Enforcement Officers	2,708	2,442
Vessels Contacted	40,127	17,454
Boaters Contacted	66,472	36,277
Saftey Warnings	7,522	5,320
Citations Issued	4,171	2,522
BUI	322	283

When is it?

Operation Dry Water is held the last weekend in June prior to the Fourth of July holiday. This year the ODW weekend is June 24-26, 2011.

Who is coordinating this?

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), working with the states, the U.S. Coast Guard and other partner agencies, coordinates the event.

What is NASBLA?

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a national nonprofit organization that helps to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories.

What does my agency need to do to participate?

Participating agencies are asked to increase BUI enforcement during the targeted weekend. This can be done by focusing on a particular body of water, by increasing patrols in several locations, by conducting BUI checkpoints in one or more locations or through a combination of these activities. Agencies are also asked to work with their local media to make the public aware of the event and the hazards of Boating Under the Influence of alcohol and drugs.

Is there any additional funding for this?

Arizona Fish & Game There is no additional funding available for agencies to participate in Operation Dry Water, but this does qualify as an allowable law enforcement and outreach expense in recreational boating safety state grants. Also, the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division has again agreed to provide funding assistance for communication and outreach efforts.

What kind of communications and outreach support is available?

NASBLA and the U.S. Coast Guard, working in partnership, have created an electronic press kit, radio public service announcements, an electronic newsletter and a national media release, all downloadable on the website. A BUI Checkpoint Plan of Operations has also been developed by NASBLA’s Enforcement & Training Committee. Agencies are encouraged to share ideas and information as well.

What’s next?

Agencies planning to again participate in Operation Dry Water should:

Save the date of June 24-26, 2011 and make plans to implement their increased BUI efforts that weekend.
Register on this site as an Operation Dry Water participating agency beginning May 2, 2010.