Operation Dry Water on Lake Allatoona
Operation Dry Water is now in effect on Lake Allatoona.
Rangers from GA’s Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division are taking part in Operation Dry Water – a nationally coordinated effort over the weekend of June 28-30, 2013 — to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence (BUI).
The mission of Operation Dry Water is also to bring awareness and education to recreational boaters about the dangers of alcohol and drug use on the water.
This is not about ruining the lives of boaters who enjoy a beer or a glass of wine on Lake Allatoona. It’s about keeping folks from operating vessels under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
“We are dedicated to keeping boaters safe on our waters. Boating is a safe and enjoyable pastime when people stay alert and follow the rules,” says Lt. Col. Jeff Weaver. “You will see our officers out on the water looking for boaters who are operating a vessel under the influence.”
Despite the fact that it is against the law nationwide for a person to operate a recreational vessel with an unlawful blood alcohol concentration (.08 or higher in Georgia), BUI continues to be a problem across the U.S.
Conservation rangers have made 71 arrests so far this year on state lakes and waterways in Georgia, and a total of 180 in 2012.
Operation Dry Water, a multi-agency, education and enforcement initiative launched by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in 2009 in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, puts thousands of local, state and federal marine law enforcement officers on the water just before the Fourth of July to give BUI enforcement high visibility before a holiday known for drinking and boating.