FOND DU LAC – The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office will be out in force educating people about boating safety as they head out on the water this long weekend.
Operation Dry Water is a national campaign that runs all year round and focuses on education and enforcement regarding boating under the influence. Every year, attention is paid to this subject for three days. This year it falls on July 4 to 6.
The department is working with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and other agencies to raise awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol and drugs, in the hopes of reducing related incidents and fatalities on the water.
“As you prepare to navigate our waterways, please take the time to ensure your safety, the safety of those you are responsible for, and the safety of others on the waterways,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
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According to the sheriff’s office, alcohol use is the leading cause of recreational boater deaths and a major contributor to boating accidents.
Alcohol and drugs, even some prescription medications, can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision and reaction time, and can increase fatigue and the effects of cold water immersion. Environmental stressors common to boating — including sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion — can also be amplified.
Under Wisconsin law, it is illegal to operate a recreational vessel with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher or with any detectable amount of a prohibited narcotic substance in your system.
In addition to educating skippers, the sheriff will also take enforcement action if necessary.
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Daphne Lemke is a Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Office participates in Operation Dry Water
