The July 4th weekend traditionally sees an increase in boating activity on Nevada’s waters, accompanied by a rise in alcohol-related accidents. In response, game wardens from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), alongside law enforcement agencies statewide, will intensify their efforts to target boaters operating under the influence (OUI) as part of Operation Dry Water from July 4-6.
“Boating is a great way to spend the 4th of July weekend,” said Chief Game Warden Kristy Knight. “But drinking and boating is a recipe for disaster. Our job is the safety of everyone on the water, and if you’re putting people in danger by drinking and boating you could be leaving the lake in handcuffs.”
NDOW will deploy boats across every major body of water in the state, with additional officers patrolling various waterways. In Southern Nevada, the National Park Service will collaborate with NDOW at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Operation Dry Water is a nationally coordinated campaign aimed at deterring boaters from operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The initiative focuses on increasing patrols, investigations, and OUI checkpoints nationwide.
“Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths. It affects your judgment along with your balance, vision and reaction time,” said Knight. “We definitely want people on the water enjoying themselves with their families, but we also want to make sure everyone gets home safely.”
For more information on Operation Dry Water, visit operationdrywater.org. A list of participating agencies by state can be found at http://www.operationdrywater.org/agencies.
