Operation Dry Water raises boating under the influence awareness

The Humboldt County Sheriffs Marine Unit is participating in a national effort to raise awareness on boating under the influence, or BUI, for a campaign called Operation Dry Water.

Boating under the influence is not only dangerous for the people on a boat, but also for anyone nearby, such as paddle boarders or kayakers. The sheriff office’s Public Information Officer, Samantha Karges, tells us that sun, wind, and vibrations of a boat are already impairing and adding alcohol on top of that is much worse. Karges added, that it’s even more dangerous than driving in a car under the influence.

Karges says 83 percent of all boating deaths are due to a lack of life jacket usage. The department’s marine unit will hold a maximum enforcement weekend on June 29th to July 1st in hopes of cutting down on alcohol use while boating.