The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be participating this weekend in Operation Dry Water, which is a national initiative aimed at reducing alcohol and drug-related incidents and fatalities on the water.
As part of the campaign, officers will be on heightened alert for violations of boating under the influence laws, promoting the safety of all boaters.
Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater fatalities and a leading factor in recreational boating incidents. During the ODW weekend, law enforcement officers will increase their presence on waterways, engaging with boaters to educate them about the risks of impaired boating. The goal is to combine education and enforcement to significantly reduce alcohol and drug-related boating incidents.
Since its inception, Operation Dry Water has removed 6,869 impaired operators from waterways, preventing potential tragedies. Officers have reached over 2.8 million boaters through this annual three-day campaign. In 2023, 488 agencies from all states and territories participated in ODW.
Alcohol consumption while boating is not only dangerous for the operator of the vessel, but also for passengers. Impairment can lead to slips, falls overboard, injuries, and deaths that could have been prevented had the individual not been impaired while boating.
