The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit will take part in Operation Dry Water, a coordinated, national weekend of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) awareness and strict enforcement aimed at reducing the number of alcohol and drug related collisions and fatalities.
Operation Dry Water takes place June 27-29, 2014. The Marine Services Unit will conduct BUI saturation patrols in various locations in the Delta. Nationally, local, state and federal law enforcement officers will be on heightened alert for those violating boating under the influence laws. Officers will also be educating boaters about BUI and boating safety.
During last year’s operation, officers around the country contacted nearly 150,000 recreational boaters and made 290 BUI arrests during the 3-day operation.
In 2013, the Marine Services Unit handled a total of 20 BUI cases in Contra Costa County.
“Reducing the number of alcohol-related collisions and fatalities is key to achieving safer and more enjoyable recreational boating,” said Lt. Jose Beltran of the Marine Services Unit. “Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths in the United States. This is unacceptable and totally preventable. Our message is clear – don’t drink and operate a vessel, always designate a non-drinking driver.”
Information and photograph courtesy of the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office
1 comment
Does anyone have any accident statistics for boating accidents related to BUI on the delta?
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