Last weekend the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, participated in its sixth annual Operation Dry Water. The national program is designed to prevent alcohol-related accidents and fatalities.
Most citizens know what a DUI is, but what about a BUI? Boating under the influence poses serious risks – enough to account for 15 percent of Florida’s boating fatalities for 2013, according to the FWC.
Operation Dry Water is a program designed to combat this statistic by educating boaters about not only the illegality of a BUI but also other repercussions such as putting others in danger.
Brian Rehwinkel is the boating safety outreach coordinator for the FWC. He says there's a reason Operation Dry Water takes place when it does.
“You’ll notice Operation Dry Water takes place each year immediately before the July Fourth holiday. It’s really intended to be there to kick off the traditional boating season to let people know,” he says.
The program entails increasing the number of Marine law enforcement officers that patrol BUI’s.
Rehwinkel also explains why he believes boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs endangers more people than just those in or near the water.
“If you’re boating under the influence and you make it back to the ramp and you trailer your boat, it presents a highway danger as well.” He goes on to say, “If you have someone who’s boating under the influence they could easily become a driver of a motor vehicle under the influence.”
Florida's minimum penalties for a first-offense BUI conviction include a $500 fine and six months in jail.
