GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Wisconsin residents are preparing to celebrate this weekend, and many will be on the water. Law enforcement is urging anyone operating a boat to do so sober.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, alcohol continues to be the leading cause of recreational boating fatalities.
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That’s why the DNR is joining law enforcement across the country for Operation Dry Water, a national campaign to combat impaired boating.
“This Dry Water weekend will take place July 4–6 — times around the Fourth of July holiday, which is unfortunately associated with a high number of impaired boating incidents and fatalities,” said NASBLA Chief Officer Taylor Kirshe.
Operation Dry Water aims to educate boaters and remove impaired operators from the water. Law enforcement will increase patrols on busy waterways to ensure safety. Since the campaign launched in 2009, around 7,400 impaired boaters have been taken off the water.
Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis said Wisconsin law treats impaired operation on water the same as on the road.
“The same way we work to keep our roadways free from impaired vehicles, we want to keep our waterways free of impaired boaters. Drunk boating is drunk driving,” Davis said.
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If you or those around you plan to operate a boat, officials urge you to stay sober and make safe decisions.
For more information on Wisconsin’s impaired driving laws, visit the DNR’s website.