For a high resolution graphic, click on the thumbnail above.
HONOLULU — The Coast Guard and local enforcement will be participating in the seventh annual nationwide, multi-agency Boating Under the Influence education, detection, and enforcement campaign, June 26 – 28, 2015.
The Coast Guard will be on the water throughout Hawaii conducting boardings and educating the public about the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol.
Operation Dry Water is a national weekend of BUI education and enforcement aimed at reducing alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities. Held each year during the weekend before the Fourth of July, Operation Dry Water is coordinated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in partnership with the states, the Coast Guard and other partner organizations.
The goal for Operation Dry Water is to significantly reduce the number of alcohol related accidents, injuries, and deaths among recreational boaters. Operation Dry Water directly supports a variety of objectives identified in the National Recreational Boating Safety Strategic Plan that focuses on reducing deaths and injuries nationally.
Boating under the influence is dangerous and illegal. Alcohol use continues to be a leading contributing factor in recreational boating related accidents, injuries and deaths. In 2013, alcohol was a contributing factor in 16 percent of all recreational boating deaths nationwide.
"Our primary goal is to partner with the state to educate boaters about the dangers of alcohol and drug use on the water," said Lt. Cmdr. James Bendle, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. "The Coast Guard and the Department of Land and Natural Resources will actively patrol throughout the summer to promote safety. We urge boaters to think twice before operating any type of watercraft under the influence, which includes motorized boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. Boating under the influence is a choice that endangers your life and other members of the community. We want everyone to return home safe after a fun day on the water here in Hawaii."
The National Association of State Boating Law Administration is a national nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. NASBLA offers a variety of resources including, training, model acts, education standards and publications. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, NASBLA affects the lives of over 83 million American boaters.
For more information about Operation Dry Water visit it on the web at www.operationdrywater.org. For additional imagery, statistics and audio click on the media tab on the Operation Dry Water website.
Media interested in conducting interviews on Coast Guard efforts to educate the public of the dangers of BUI should contact 14th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (808) 535-3230.