DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police today announced Delaware’s active participation in Operation Dry Water, an annual nationwide enforcement and education campaign aimed at preventing alcohol and drug-related boating accidents and fatalities. Over the June 24-26 weekend, Fish & Wildlife officers will increase their presence on Delaware’s waterways to educate boaters and crack down on operators whose blood alcohol level exceeds the state and federal limit of 0.08 percent.

“Delaware consistently has one of the lowest boating accident rates in the country, and we want to keep it that way. Drinking and boating don’t mix, and can lead to accidents that put operators, their passengers and other boaters at risk,” said Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Chief Robert Legates. “During Operation Dry Water, our officers will be increasing patrols, checking boaters for intoxication and providing information on the dangers of operating under the influence.”

According to national statistics released by the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol use is a leading contributing factor to fatal boating accidents. Of the 4,158 boating accidents on the nation’s waterways in 2015, alcohol was found to be the contributing factor in 17 percent of fatalities. Nationally in 2015, 306 accidents involved alcohol use and resulted in 122 deaths and 258 injuries, a decrease from 2014 with 345 accidents, 137 deaths and 302 injuries.

With 25 boating-related accidents and one fatality in 2015, Delaware’s accident rate remains below the national average, based on Coast Guard data. Recreational boating is a pastime enjoyed by thousands of Delawareans and visitors to our state, contributing more than $300 million a year to Delaware’s economy. More than 59,000 boats and watercraft are registered in Delaware.

Operation Dry Water is coordinated nationwide by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), in partnership with state marine enforcement agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard. Over the three-day weekend in 2015, all 50 states, six U.S. Territories and more than 6,600 law enforcement officers from 582 agencies participated, resulting in 278 operating under the influence (OUI) arrests, 4,855 citations and 13,87 safety warnings in the sweeping effort aimed at safer boating. Officers contacted 125,087 boaters aboard 57,402 vessels nationally.

During Operation Dry Water in 2015, Delaware officers made 864 contacts with boat operators and passengers and conducted 126 boardings while performing standard vessel safety checks and encouraging safe boating practices both in operations and required safety equipment. Twenty citations were issued that weekend, helping to raise awareness of and reduce unsafe boating practices. None were issued for operating a vessel under the influence (OUI).

“Again this year Delaware will be joining with the other 49 states in Operation Dry Water,” said Chief Legates. “During the Operation Dry Water weekend and every day, if you are at the helm and found to be under the influence, you will be arrested. We urge boat operators to stay sober, follow safe boating practices and plan ahead to have a non-drinking designated boat operator aboard if alcohol is consumed.”

Just like driving an automobile, operating a boat with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher is in violation of Delaware and federal laws. Boat operators found to be at or above the limit will find their voyage terminated, will be arrested and may have their vessel impounded. Boat operators found to be under the influence also can face fines and potential jail time.

DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife officers use a standardized field sobriety test to identify intoxicated boaters. The test, which can be administered while the boat is afloat, allows marine enforcement agents to test boaters in a seated position and apply a percentage of probability that the subject is impaired at 0.08 blood alcohol concentration or higher.

Despite dramatic increases in boating activity in Delaware, boating-related accidents and fatalities have decreased through the years. The decreases in fatalities are directly attributed to increased enforcement efforts, Delaware’s mandatory recreational boating safety education program and the state law requiring children 12 years old and younger to wear a lifejacket while in a vessel underway in Delaware waters. Since the inception of the child lifejacket law, no child under the age of 13 has drowned in a boating accident on Delaware waters as a result of not wearing a lifejacket.

Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police also remind the public that under Delaware law, all persons born on or after Jan. 1, 1978 must successfully complete a boating safety course in order to operate a boat on Delaware waters.

“Since the Boating Safety program was established, more than 30,000 individuals have been certified to operate a recreational vessel on Delaware waters,” said Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police boating safety coordinator. “An educated boater is a safe boater. Our statistics show that boaters who have successfully completed a boating safety course are less likely to be involved in a boating accident.”

Delaware’s Office of Boating Safety and Education also provides outreach to private and non-profit organizations, schools, clubs and the public to educate boaters on skills and seamanship, and to encourage them to be safe, knowledgeable and responsible boaters.

For more information, please visit the Delaware Boating Safety webpage.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Media Contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 224

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