The Lee County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit will join other local, state and federal law enforcement officers June 25-27 for Operation Dry Water 2010, the second-annual national crackdown on those Boating Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs.
It will be Lee County's first year participating. Lee did conduct an organized enforcement effort during the Fourth of July weekend last year with 50 safety checks, eight citations and 40 warnings but no BUI arrests.
Agencies and organizations from 46 states and five territories participated in the first Operation Dry Water in a three-day June weekend when 2,442 marine law enforcement officers made contact with 17,454 recreational vessels and issued 5,320 boating safety warnings, 283 BUI citations and 1,127 citations for other violations.
Boating Under the Influence is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents with 17 percent of boating fatalities a direct result of alcohol or drug use.
In 2008, more than two-thirds of those who died in recreational boating accidents drowned; 90 percent of those who drowned were not wearing a life jacket. In accidents where the level of boat operator instruction is known, nearly 80 percent of fatalities occur in accidents where the operator has not received boating safety instruction.
Safety inspections will be conducted and violators of wake and speed zones, careless operation, BUI will be cited.
Vessel owners and operators are reminded to conduct their own safety inspections to include checking navigation / anchor lights, fire extinguishers and assuring the proper number of USCG-approved lifejackets before disembarking.
Citizens can report aggressive or impaired boat operators at (239) 477-1000. If you see reckless or drunk boat operators dial 911 or use VHF Channel 16.
