Overview
- State agencies in Minnesota, Oregon and others will take part in Operation Dry Water from July 3–5 with increased on-water patrols and targeted sobriety checks.
- Officers will enforce a zero-tolerance approach and can seek blood, breath or urine samples when field sobriety tests fail to determine impairment.
- Convictions can bring jail time, substantial fines (reports cite penalties up to $6,250) and loss of boating or other vehicle operating privileges.
- Officials stress that alcohol and drugs raise drowning risk on the water because sun glare, motion and dehydration worsen impairment and many fatalities involve people not wearing life jackets.
- Agencies urge the public to stay sober on boats, wear life jackets and call 911 to report suspected impaired operators with boat descriptions, location and registration details.