Conservation officers urge you to practice sober, safe boating

Indiana Conservation Officers are urging you not to be out boating if you are under the influence. They will be out in force cracking down on impaired boating Saturday through the 4th of July for Operation Dry Water.

Operation Dry Water is a campaign to heighten awareness and enforcement of safe and sober boating practices. The goal is to lower the number of boating incidents and fatalities that happen over the Independence Day holiday weekend.

Conservation officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources are working in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard on the campaign.

Because alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational boater deaths, Indiana Conservation Officers will be working to increase public awareness of the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

If you are on the water this weekend, you will notice more officer patrols on the water and at recreational boating checkpoints.

Operating a vessel under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal on all bodies of water and can lead to serious injuries, death, property damage and legal consequences. Indiana Conservation Officers reminds boaters to always boat sober and to wear a life jacket when on or around the water.

You can get more information at operationdrywater.org.