Operation Dry Water is a year-round national effort to educate recreational boaters about the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
A heightened enforcement during the holiday weekend of Thursday through Saturday, July 4-6, will see Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other law enforcement partners focusing efforts on Boating Under the Influence detection and enforcement.
The mission of Operation Dry Water is to reduce the number of alcohol- and drug-related incidents and fatalities on the water.
The FWC has been involved with the Operation Dry Water campaign since its inception in 2009 and this year will continue to play a vital role in protecting lives, promoting safe boating practices, ensuring legal compliance and fostering a culture of responsible behavior on the water during the Operation Dry Water weekend.
Alcohol use continues to be the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths and leading contributor to boating accidents. Operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal on all bodies of water and the use of both legal and illegal drugs impairs judgement and reaction time that can lead to series injuries and consequences. In Florida, it is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, the same as in a vehicle.
During Operation Dry Water weekend, boating safety advocates, volunteers and law enforcement personnel will collaborate to educate boaters on safe boating practices at marinas and on the water in every U.S. state and territory. The FWC and other participating law enforcement agencies will work to identify and remove dangerous or impaired vessel operators. Last year, FWC law enforcement officers removed 94 impaired operators from Florida waterways during Operation Dry Water.
“The Fourth of July is one of the busiest boating holidays in the country,” said Col. Brian Smith, Director of FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. “And with more than a million registered recreational vessels in Florida, our officers are committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on the water. We will be educating the public in the days leading up to the holiday and will increase patrols statewide looking for any signs of boater impairment.”
The FWC reminds boaters that the best way to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on the water is to choose to remain sober and alert, to wear a life jacket and take a boating education course.
More information about boating and boating regulations in Florida can be found by visiting MyFWC.com/boating and boaters can learn more about boating under the influence and the Operation Dry Water campaign by visiting OperationDryWater.org.
The U.S. Coast Guard recently released its 2023 calendar year statistics on recreational boating incidents, which showed a decrease in accidents and fatalities. Florida, however, led the nation in total numbers in both categories.
Florida reported 619 accidents and 56 deaths last year, a decrease from 712 accidents and 66 deaths in 2022. Florida accounted for almost 10% of the nation’s fatalities in 2023. It also reported 368 injuries and $14.8 million in property damage.
Total U.S. fatalities in 2023 fell by 11.3% to 564 from 636 the year before, while overall incidents decreased by 4.9% from 4,040 to 3,844. Non-fatal injuries also declined by 4.3% from 2,222 to 2,126.
Alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2023, accounting for 79 deaths, or 17% of total fatalities.
“Boaters should remain vigilant on the water as most incidents occur when you might least expect them — in good visibility, calm waters and little wind,” said Capt. Amy Beach, Inspections and Compliance director. “The most frequent events involve collisions with other vessels, objects or groundings, which is why it is so important to keep a proper lookout, navigate at a safe speed, adhere to navigation rules and obey navigation aids.”
Deaths occurred predominantly on vessels operated by individuals who had not received boating safety instruction, accounting for 75% of fatalities. Open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats were the vessel types most involved in reported incidents.
Drowning accounted for 75% of deaths, with 87% of those victims not wearing life jackets.
For FWC 2023 Boating Accident Statistics, visit MyFWC.com/boating and click on “Boating Accidents.”
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